A ruling that would require the mandatory installation of backup cameras on all cars and light trucks sold in the U.S., is still on the table, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland.
Speaking during an interview with Bloomberg at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Strickland said that the legislation remains “very much” a consideration and that “[transportation] secretary [Ray LaHood] and I talk about rear visibility every day.”
So far, the controversial ruling has been pushed back three times, the latest last month, when NHTSA missed the December 31st deadline to issue it. At present, the ruling is deemed to be one of the most expensive pending pieces of legislation on record — costs are said to have reached $2.7 billion U.S.
Automakers have spoken out against the new ruling saying that rear backup cameras should only be installed on larger vehicles, such as full-size sedans, bigger SUVs and pickup trucks. Some also fear that with increasing fuel and emissions standards, mandatory back up cameras could also help push the sticker price of new vehicles higher, making them less affordable to a larger segment of the population.
