With new technology comes new vehicle safety measures, and we’re really liking this one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requiring all new light vehicles — that’s cars, SUVs, trucks and vans to the layman — to be equipped with rear backup cameras starting May 1, 2018.

Safety First

This is exciting news for parents and anyone else who cares about children’s safety, as rear backup cameras have been shown to significantly reduce the rate of tragic backup accidents, especially involving children who may not be tall enough to be visible in rearview mirrors alone. In fact, this new law is expected to save anywhere from 50 to 70 lives per year, most of them children and seniors. The NHTSA reports that each year there are 210 deaths and 15,000 injuries resulting from light-vehicle backup accidents, with a majority of the deaths occurring in children under the age of five, and seniors over 70.

Getting Up to Speed

Unfortunately, many families can’t afford to immediately make the switch to a newer vehicle with a collision avoidance camera. Many cars on the road, especially those made prior to 2016, are not equipped with a rear backup camera. According to NHTSA estimates, it won’t be until 2054 that almost all cars on the road are equipped with this new safety feature.

The good news is there are options for people who want to update their older vehicle with new rear backup technology for the safety of their family, neighbors and others around them. You can find many vehicle safety products, like rear backup cameras for collision avoidance and even blind spot indicators, at auto stores like Alta Mere The Automotive Outfitters. Your older vehicle can quickly and easily be equipped with the latest safety technology, and you’ll no longer need to worry about what, or who, is just out of sight.

Just because all new light vehicles will be required to have rear backup cameras starting in 2018, doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start on improving the safety of your vehicle today. Help join the movement to protect our children and seniors from tragic backup accidents by installing a rear backup camera and other safety devices on your older vehicle. Visit your nearest Alta Mere store and get your vehicle up to speed on the latest important safety regulations.