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6. I came close to backing up over an infant
Tue Feb 28, 2012, 06:07 AM
Feb 2012

The toddler slipped out of the fast food restaurant just as we were leaving. We've got a CR-V so visibility near the rear bumper is zilch. I was lucky. When I glanced in the driver's side mirror before backing I saw a flicker of motion darting behind the car. We got out and there was the child. We returned her to her parents, told them what happened and to watch their child more closely.

I have never forgotten that incident, and how close I came to backing over the child. I don't know if I could ever forgive myself, even though it would clearly have been an accident.

When I practiced law we had a case where a child of about the same age darted over to an empty ball field behind his house to see what the big truck was doing (pumping out a porta-potty). The field was empty when the driver arrived, and he didn't see anyone around when he climbed back into the truck. Even though he looked in both mirrors, he never saw the child which had crawled under the truck. I remember how shaken he was during the deposition, and I'll never forget the photos of the tire tracks over the child's body.

I don't think rear view cameras should be mandatory, however. It sounds like a "good idea" without the science to back it up.

For one thing, before the third brake light was made mandatory an extensive study was done where the devices were installed in New York taxi cabs. After a year it was found there was a sizable -- about 50% -- reduction in rear-end accidents. Based on that study the brake light rule was issued.

As far as I can tell, the only study re: children and cars shows that two-thirds of the time a parent or other close relative is driving. The only conclusion to derive from that is that parents and relatives shouldn't drive. That would cut the number of accidents substantially.

They think a driver that neither looks behind themselves nor keeps track of their kids... saras Feb 2012 #1
Problem with the sensor idea is that it could render it difficult if not impossible to drive cstanleytech Feb 2012 #13
Ever hear of a blind spot? bitchkitty Feb 2012 #27
I could have used one yesterday CAcyclist Feb 2012 #63
A motion sensor only senses motion. GETPLANING Feb 2012 #64
The idea is that: existentialist Feb 2012 #80
I'm thinking of putting one on my Suburban csziggy Feb 2012 #84
And think how much help such a camera would be tblue37 Mar 2012 #102
No way I'm parallel parking that land barge! csziggy Mar 2012 #103
When I went from a Toyota Camry to a Ford Focus, tblue37 Mar 2012 #104
I haven't had a small vehicle for a very long time csziggy Mar 2012 #107
I added a proximity sensor to my truck. No camera, but JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2012 #105
So stupid. bluedigger Feb 2012 #2
That has been the industry's response ashling Feb 2012 #3
Perhaps. bluedigger Feb 2012 #5
Seem to be a lot of folks ... GeorgeGist Feb 2012 #20
Leave it to the JK to mess up a good thing. bluedigger Feb 2012 #71
So stupid. AlbertCat Feb 2012 #21
I'm wondering if the insurance industry isn't funding this too dmr Feb 2012 #39
There you go. bluedigger Feb 2012 #73
I wonder what the numbers are quakerboy Feb 2012 #4
I came close to backing up over an infant LastLiberal in PalmSprings Feb 2012 #6
I would actually like to see that study repeated. Thor_MN Feb 2012 #14
Now that the novelty of brake lights is gone, does anyone pay attention to them anymore? Brickbat Feb 2012 #17
Yes, because that 3rd light only comes on when the brakes are applied jeff47 Feb 2012 #29
Yes, that 3rd light comes on only when braking usrname Feb 2012 #42
2-foot driving caraher Feb 2012 #58
The original study was done with taxis... Thor_MN Mar 2012 #101
Yes! It was never about the novelty. It put the 3rd brake light at eye level. TheMadMonk Feb 2012 #85
what about the parents keeping up with where their children are? SemperEadem Feb 2012 #7
A guy at work years ago backed over and killed his child. Kablooie Feb 2012 #8
Reading this thread has changed my mind. Warren Stupidity Feb 2012 #9
Anti-lock brakes zipplewrath Feb 2012 #16
I swear, sometimes it's difficult to tell if I'm on DU or some right-wing/libertarian website Hugabear Feb 2012 #67
Sarcasm zipplewrath Feb 2012 #78
I can tell from personal experience RoccoR5955 Feb 2012 #10
Wrong answer to the problem zipplewrath Feb 2012 #15
Agreed. Proximity sensors make more sense. mwooldri Feb 2012 #24
The problem with a motion sensor is that it doesn't give you the right information XemaSab Feb 2012 #38
Either and/or zipplewrath Feb 2012 #41
A view that one cannot see in the rear view mirror. AlbertCat Feb 2012 #22
Some vehicles such as minivans and the like you can see better in the mirrors.. Fumesucker Feb 2012 #25
Actually no I didn't take Drivers Education classes. mwooldri Feb 2012 #31
Went to Skip Barber's Racing School RoccoR5955 Feb 2012 #76
You can't see shit that is behind sheet metal no matter how far you turn your head. Warren Stupidity Feb 2012 #88
How old is your neck, spine and arm? jberryhill Mar 2012 #100
Me too primavera Feb 2012 #23
Not a bad idea for SUVs and trucks. But, a rearview camera on a Miata concertible? leveymg Feb 2012 #11
The great music would make up for it though. nt Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #52
can you see RoccoR5955 Feb 2012 #77
I drive a car with one of those. I hardly ever rely upon... MarkCharles Feb 2012 #12
That's easy. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #53
Sounds like how the government does things! MarkCharles Feb 2012 #72
I'm sorry that is too 1984. I don't know... Justice wanted Feb 2012 #18
You are kidding, right? bitchkitty Feb 2012 #28
I'm looking at...Camera probably video. How much will be used against people in courts of Justice wanted Feb 2012 #30
How the hell do you get that from the OP? Hugabear Feb 2012 #69
you can buy them now and they are affordable madrchsod Feb 2012 #19
I would like the camera for the trailer Kolesar Feb 2012 #34
Our Prius is equiped with a camera and motion sensor LittleGirl Feb 2012 #26
I agree with you, entirely. As a Prius driver.. MarkCharles Feb 2012 #51
I don't drive much but I don't want a scramble put on the phone either LittleGirl Feb 2012 #61
My dear young friend, there was a time when... MarkCharles Feb 2012 #81
why so condensending? LittleGirl Feb 2012 #90
I have rear sensors in my Expedition and couldn't live without them here in Chicago. Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2012 #93
This is regulation overkill SpartanDem Feb 2012 #32
Added to the recent TPMS and ESC systems, I agree. bhikkhu Feb 2012 #95
Tip from Click n Clack on how to extend the life of your vehicles' transmission. mwooldri Feb 2012 #33
I could use one on my truck. I sure as hell don't need it on my car. AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #35
Son of a bitch! More fucking big government. Hotler Feb 2012 #36
I'm usually a Freedom overrules Safety person MicaelS Feb 2012 #37
Until you get the first person running over a kid with the front of the car snooper2 Feb 2012 #47
When are the cell phone jammers being required? nt Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #54
in five to eight years every car will have cell phone built in snooper2 Feb 2012 #55
What about safety though? Texting while driving is too difficult now. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #56
voice to text technology is running 80-85% accuracy snooper2 Feb 2012 #57
I need a lot better than that still. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #59
I'd love to have an over the hood mirror so I can see what's hedgehog Feb 2012 #40
It's a nice thought, but MurrayDelph Feb 2012 #43
It's hardly a money-making scheme usrname Feb 2012 #44
Oh great something else on the dash to distract stupid people snooper2 Feb 2012 #45
How long before someone makes a widget to play videos on it? Fumesucker Feb 2012 #48
That's already there, it's within the triple DIN "radio" so you can play angry birds snooper2 Feb 2012 #49
I know about that.. Fumesucker Feb 2012 #50
These are cheap enough that we should have had them years ago Taverner Feb 2012 #46
I worked with a guy who made one for his RV years ago caraher Feb 2012 #60
In my Prius since 2005 - shows up automatically on dash display anytime gear goes to reverse. cyberpj Feb 2012 #89
fact it saves lives battlema Feb 2012 #62
This is a great idea. mistertrickster Feb 2012 #65
They have these already in some cars caraher Feb 2012 #83
Cool, I want that . . . nt mistertrickster Feb 2012 #99
I read this as "U.S. Rule Set for Cameras at Cats’ Rear" AngryAmish Feb 2012 #66
LOL 47of74 Feb 2012 #92
We have a backup camera in our truck. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2012 #68
My experience. I have one in my car... Javaman Feb 2012 #70
I have this in my Ford---it is excellent Kingofalldems Feb 2012 #74
Good. Cameras are cheap. Robb Feb 2012 #75
Display units aren't zipplewrath Feb 2012 #79
My 2011 Tacoma displayed the rearview camera on the rearview mirror. DemoTex Feb 2012 #86
Trial lawyers are going to love this one PuffedMica Feb 2012 #82
Spam deleted by cyberswede (MIR Team) dsfgerher Feb 2012 #87
So this assumes I will navigate my car in reverse while looking at a screen? high density Feb 2012 #91
I use all the information at my disposal. The more information, the more accuracy. Warren Stupidity Feb 2012 #97
They have already absolutely eliminated the "economy car"... bhikkhu Feb 2012 #94
market forces existentialist Feb 2012 #96
Wow, gps/entertainment system manufacturers are weeping with joy over this. truthisfreedom Feb 2012 #98
I don't care about this safety nonsense Ter Mar 2012 #106
Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #108
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