New Technology Becomes Legal Requirement In The US
Thursday, 21. July 2011
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The US is making a piece of technology a legal requirement by 2014 and yet there are very few cars fitted with it in the UK as standard or have it available as an option. The technology provides images picked up by reversing cameras to be displayed in your rear view mirror. Will it be the next big thing in the UK and become a legal requirement? Time will tell but at the moment it is only fitted on lower spec Lexus CT 200h, Nissan X Trail and Toyota Auris. It is available as a £475 option on the new Ford Focus.
The new US legislation says that the display can be through a sat nav screen or dashboard monitor. Whilst this is fine on high spec cars but not appropriate on more modest cars on which the mirror display is cheaper to fit and in tests drivers have actually preferred the mirror monitor to a screen monitor.
Maker Gentex said it is a great hit with drivers who are able to view the normal reflected image in the rear view mirror as well as the camera image. When reverse is selected the camera image is automatically displayed through the mirror’s reflective surface.
What do you think of this idea? Let us know, should it be a legal requirement? By Graham Hill
