If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gets its way, backup cameras will be required on all new vehicles by 2014. Intended to prevent drivers from backing over pedestrians, the Rule could add the cost of camera and display electronics to low-end cars, the most cost-sensitive vehicles. NHTSA data indicates an average of 292 people die each year from back-over accidents. The victims are primarily children and the elderly. In addition to the fatalities, over 18,000 injuries occur per year.
CMOS image sensors are commonly used in high-end and high-feature content vehicles. For vehicles with a display screen for navigation and/or driver information, the cost may be in the $88 to 158 range. However, for other vehicles, the backup camera system could add $159 to $203 to the vehicle’s cost. Traditional automotive camera suppliers, such as Sanyo, stand to benefit from the proposed legislation.
For more information on the proposed NHTSA Rule, click here.
For more information on Sanyo’s backup camera, click here.