Rearview Camera Law to Boost Vehicle Price by $200

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants to convince White House officials to finalize the regulation regarding the rearview cameras in all vehicles.

In February 2012, Ray LaHood set a new deadline, of December 31st, for his proposed regulations aimed at helping drivers travel more safely by eliminating blind zones behind vehicles that make it difficult for them to see pedestrians.

“We have a meeting with the White House about this in the next few days, so I hope that they see the importance of this the way we do,” LaHood said.

The NHTSA is determined to prevent deaths caused by backovers, which kill about 300 people annually and injure about 16,000. Children aged 5 or younger account for about one-third of the fatalities, while another third involves persons 70 or older. In December 2010 the NHTSA said that the additional rear cameras is worth the cost which would be between $1.9 billion to $2.7 billion per year for the auto industry. Drivers will have to pay $159 to $203 per vehicle for the cameras without the display screens and between be $58 to $88 for the displays.

In December 2011 the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers CEO Mitch Bainwoll and other officials discussed with the White House officials about the project’s costs and urged further study.