Rear view cameras: $18M per life saved

[LTC8K6]

My Jeep has a factory camera that displays on the radio lcd and it has the backup sensors and beeper.

It goes off so seldom, that every time it does, it takes me a second to remember what it is.

I am so used to the camera display, that I don't often look at it. I still look back when I back up.

I usually look at the display when/if the beeper goes off.

I would bet that the reaction time to the alert or camera will not be quick enough to save a child hiding behind, or darting behind a vehicle.

You will already have backed up a few feet before you stop.

 

[lothar]

So a rear view camera doesn't have any blind spot?
What exactly is the point of this requirement?

 

[micrometers]

She has to have a cause into which to pour her grief. I'd go crazy if I accidentally killed a child that way. So let her blame corporate greed for her child's death, if it helps her heal.

 

[Nebor]

How much is a life worth?

In America, roughly ~$5M USD.

 

[halik]

In America, roughly ~$5M USD.

This,
most regulation (speed limits etc), are around 3-5M if i remember from undergrad.

 

[bfdd]

lol... people are actually defending this kind of legislation and then will go into another thread and bitch about spending others do? come on.. this is the prime example of stupid shit our government shouldn't be dealing with but are because the majority of our voters are fucking morons, this includes every single person who said "this is a good idea" or "how much is a life worth?" morons.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Yeah, we'll have people staring in their backup cameras as they back out of their spot... just to swing the nose of the car and scrape down the side of the car parked next to them

Oh my, how did the kids survive for all these years before backup cameras! Oh wait, it was because the drivers were PAYING ATTENTION!

Stupid junk regulations that serve to cost everybody more money. Of course, make the cameras an option for those who want it, that's fine. But mandatory? Stupid.

 

[mchammer187]

In America, roughly ~$5M USD.

I call BS on this. Nowhere are we entitled to millions in medical care if we are are sick.

I'd much rather the government give out a 100K surgery or medical treatment than mandating we spend it on a rearview camera.

 

[Zebo]

Blah. A Hyundai is gonna cost $50,000 one day when all these busy bodies get done.

I like traveling to emerging economies and renting cars. It's like 1950's America. In Thailand, I rented a all steel interior Range Rover, no airabags, with just a lap belt, roll up windows - real basic ...course it looks almost the same on the outside but no chrome. Cost is about half what we pay.

In Brazil same thing.

 

[rchiu]

Another prime example of American blame everyone but themselves for everything.

I am sorry the lady lost her son, but if her car didn't run over her son, something else bad will happen for a 19month baby running out of the house without adult supervision.

The blame for the car without rear view mirror and government not having a regulation is not the real reason for her son's death, i am sorry to say, but her negligence.

 

[alkemyst]

Lets require bubbles as the only mode of transportation and everyone must be in their bubbles at all times in public.

 

[Farang]

I don't know if anything made me wonder more about this Obama guy than this article

 

[ichy]

To hell with the kids. I don't want to pay more for a feature that I don't want or need on my car.

 

[Genx87]

This is a classic "There ought to be a law" situation. I fucked up, so therefore lets make a law that requires everybody else to pay for my guilt.

 

[Exterous]

How much is a life worth?

Depends on what agencey you look at but less than 18M

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/business/economy/17regulation.html?pagewanted=all

(Might want to read the article for some insight as to how the price changes based on political considerations)

I think the bigger question is at what point do we actually start to acknowledge that life can be dangerous and accept that as part of life? With all the new regulations regarding things like this and banning sports balls at recess etc I am starting to wonder if we are sacrificing life experiences in the name of over protection. Can't live life - you might die from it!

 

[ShawnD1]

What a total waste of money. It is on the parent to know where their children are, not upon the government and the automakers to put in just another crutch for the incompetent and inattentive.

This.

The extra $500 would be better spent on a law requiring winter tires. I'm sick of people driving 20mph on crappy all season tires and everyone else flies past doing 60.

 

[Thump553]

My wife's care has a backup camera. I consider it one of the most useful options in the last couple of decades (ranks right up there with electric doorlocks, day/night mirrors and the ability to plug a MP3 player into your car's audio system).

Valuing it solely on lives saved is stupid. It is a great convenience, especially in areas where you angle park on busy downtown streets.

 

[micrometers]

wait a sec. It would be fairly cheap IMO, could be done for about a hundred per vehicle. I am serious.

How much does a flipHD camcorder cost? 30 bucks? hook it up to a cheap LCD screen and that's not too much.

 

[MotF Bane]

This.

The extra $500 would be better spent on a law requiring winter tires. I'm sick of people driving 20mph on crappy all season tires and everyone else flies past doing 60.

Worse, doing sixty on all seasons, but can't maneuver or stop.

.

 

[sm625]

Spend $50 billion a year on silly cameras to save 300 lives.
Spend $100 billion a year on hpv shots to save (arguably) about that same 300 lives.
Spend ($XXX outrageous amount) for almost no rational reason = scam

Americans LOVE being scammed. But you know what we love even more than being scammed?

Spending $800 billion to destroy lives in other countries. Now that is the american way. Stand up, salute your backup camera and your hpv shot for boys, salute all the absurdity, all the stupidity, and then stfu and drink yer fluoride.

 

[MotF Bane]

My wife's care has a backup camera. I consider it one of the most useful options in the last couple of decades (ranks right up there with electric doorlocks, day/night mirrors and the ability to plug a MP3 player into your car's audio system).

Valuing it solely on lives saved is stupid. It is a great convenience, especially in areas where you angle park on busy downtown streets.

Then pay for an option you want, no regulation required.

.

 

[JockoJohnson]

Wouldn't checking to make sure kids (especially YOUR kids) aren't running around your car also save children? Advocating backup cameras as a prevention for that kind of tragedy seems like it's absolving parents/drivers of their responsibility.

Not enough money in all the world to provide people with more common sense. Common sense is severely lacking in this country as of late.

And as to your last sentence, that is exactly what this society has come down to: "Vote for me so I can take all responsibility off of your hands. I will make your life so much easier because you won't need to think critically any more and won't need to be responsible for anything."

 

[zsdersw]

Yet another solution in search of a problem.

 

[micrometers]

how many people spend $$$ on things like leather seats, or those stupid rims that keep on spinning when you've stopped? Even AC.

This stuff is cheap. $50 per car. That's no big deal. And in addition to saving lives it probably would help with things like grocery carts or any number of things.

 

[JTsyo]

Why do you need the camera? Doesn't the backup sensors do the same thing but much cheaper? I like using sound better since that allows you to still look behind you and not at your console.