Look Out: Backing Up!
By Jennifer Bemisderfer
My husband and I are just starting our search for a new car. Since I work a lot with CEA’s Mobile Electronics (aka Automotive Technology) members, I’m well aware of all the cool toys and technologies available for the car and as such, my feature wish-list includes everything from GPS to i-Pod integration and rear-seat DVD for the kids (might as well plan for the future, right?). But one thing my husband is adamant about is a back-up camera, or at the very least those sensors on the rear bumper. (In fact, he probably prefer sensors on the front bumper and the side panels too if you consider how many times I’ve become intimately involved with the concrete poles in the parking garage!)
But besides saving your rear-bumper, there is a more important reason to look into back-up cameras. Did you know that in the US, over FIFTY kids are backed over by vehicles EVERY WEEK? These are truly unthinkable tragedies that could have been easily prevented with the use of a back-up camera. It doesn’t have to be factory-installed (although some are) or even professionally installed (although some are). There are back-up cameras that YOU can install yourself in a few simple steps.
A back-up camera could have prevented the death of Maria Sue Chapman, the 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman, who was struck and killed in May by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother. He didn’t see her. There was an episode on Oprah a few weeks back that featured the Peck family, whose four year-old son Jackson was accidentally backed over by his Grandmother. It was the most tragic and heartbreaking story I’ve ever heard. Worst of all, it didn’t need to happen. If you have kids, or grandkids, or there are even kids in your neighborhood, you should investigate technologies that allow you to back up safely.
For more information, statistics and education opportunities, visit www.kidsandcars.org.
Popularity: 60% [?]
June 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Where in the world did you get that figure of 50 children being backed up on EVERY WEEK?? According to one article, “Kids ‘n Cars workers documented 294 incidents of cars backing over children in the past 10 years.” That is certainly nothing even close to your number! Please state your source when you write such statistics.
As importantly, why imply that there was some deficiency in the cars? When does the responsiblity for children’s safety shift to the vehicle or some device? How about the parents watching their children and teaching them not to be near vehicles? When did personal responsibility stop being in the domain of the parents and adults? Your article simply points to the fact that humans are imperfect and no amount of technology will stop that. And no number of gadgets will eliminate parental stupidity. Every time we add one more device that removes responsibility from the individual, we further dumb-down our actions and lower the level of our awareness of everything around us.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Vic obviously doesn’t have children, or at least children who play outside. On our cul-de-sac the kids are running, biking, scootering down the sidewalk and all it takes is for one person to backup and not pay attention to what’s behind them. How is that parental stupidity? Kids are human beings, not pets, and cant be leashed or permanently attached to their parents. A camera that makes it easier to truly see what/who is behind you when backing up is a good thing that can save lives.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:43 am
The 50 kids per week statistic is listed clearly on the Kids and Cars website and is well documented in various media reports as well.
Every driver has the responsibility to be aware of his or her surroundings at all times. That’s not up for debate. But if you can add technology to your car that lets you be MORE responsible, how is that a bad thing? The technology is in addition to–not in LIEU of–individual parent and driver responsiblity. Despite our best efforts and intentions, accidents do happen. If a back up camera can help prevent those accidents, then I’ll put it in my car.
Thanks for your feedback!