The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it will add the rearview mirror video system to its list of recommended features under its New Car Assessment Program, designed to encourage car manufacturers to improve vehicle safety. The camera and monitor system allows drivers to see what is in behind them and what is in their blind spots. Safety groups have called the action a stalling tactic, saying that the agency is taking its time meeting its deadline to issue a rule on rear visibility. Passed in 2008, the law had a 2011 deadline. The NHTSA announcement came just one day before a group of safety advocates, including two parents who unintentionally hit their children while backing up, was expected to file suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation, which includes the NHTSA. The lawsuit asks the court to direct the DOT to issue a mandatory rule within 90 days. Rearview camera systems are currently installed in 7 out of 10 new vehicles. According to the DOT, more than 200 people are killed and 17,000 injured every year in backover crashes. Children under the age of 5 account for 44% of the fatalities. In a high percentage of those cases, the driver is a parent or family member. The NHTSA said that these cameras could cut the number of these deaths and injuries in half, but the DOT has twice extended the deadline, first to December 2011, and again to February 2012. The DOT said the extensions were necessary because of the large volume of public comments and the complexity of some of the issues. If your child has been seriously injured in a backover accident, contact the experienced team at Finkelstein & Partners immediately. We can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Read the full article here.
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