Archive for October, 2011

Vehicle Backup Cameras Make Neighborhoods Safer For Children

Monday, October 24th, 2011

It is pretty obvious why children are the most common victim of an incident involving a vehicle backing out. They’re little. They run around a lot. They’re also very careless of their surroundings. And, why shouldn’t they be? They’re children and they do not know better. As far as they’re concerned adults are around strictly for the purpose of watching out for them.

Blind spots are tricky territory. On a technicality the driver is responsible but it’s hard to ignore the obvious truth that the vehicles themselves are an extension of the problem. A vehicle backup camera will help the driver detect moving objects behind the vehicle. With infra-red cameras and a full color display, the driver can rest assured that even after checking behind their vehicle that no object or person will appear out of nowhere afterwards without them knowing.

A small car may only have a blind spot nearing 13 feet, which is scary enough, but a large vehicle such as an RV or commercial truck can have a blind spot of 28 feet or more! That’s why companies are encouraged to have a truck or commercial backup camera system installed for each vehicle in their fleet.

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Facts About Blind Spots, Driving Safety, and Backup Camera Systems

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Did you know that blind spots can range from approximately 13 to 55 feet? And those numbers differ depending on the shape and size of the vehicle. Every vehicle has blind spots. Not everyone double checks their blind spots before they back out of a space. That is the main reason backing up is a leading cause of accidents, both minor and fatal. It is a problem. So much so that practically every week there is a fatality of some sort within the U.S.

Sadly, but truthfully, most of these accidents are completely avoidable. A backup camera system acts as a driver assist device. It can be used on any major motor vehicle, including RVs and boats. It was once acceptable to turn your head and check once you were in the vehicle. You should still get into the habit of checking behind the vehicle before getting in and continue to back up slowly even after the camera is installed. Children sometimes run out behind the vehicle so even if you see them you need enough time to react.

To optimize its use, make sure that when you are setting up the camera that you center it, angled to get the complete field of vision from bumper to street and even a little farther out. Some cameras will have a wide scope with a 120 degree range. A good field of view would cover both outside edges of your bumper. Make sure that the camera also covers at least 15 feet behind it. If you can find one that covers more you are in really good shape.

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Installing A Backup Camera System

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Installing your vehicle’s backup camera system is not a traumatic experience. The camera is most commonly placed on the top center of the vehicle or by the license plate between the lights, angled so that you can a full view.  The screen is then placed either on the dash, or somewhere near it in plain sight but not in a distracting or blocking position.

If you want your camera to be permanently hardwired into your vehicle you can get a professional aftermarket customization shop to do the work for you. Simply look in your local yellow pages or online for a place that handles auto customization or auto accessories. Otherwise, you can follow the instructions that come included with your vehicle backup camera for self-installation. All of the necessary materials come included in the package: the wires, screen, camera, mounts, remote controls and power adapters. All you need are the tools, like a screwdriver, to put it together. The camera wiring may require you to drill holes. You can use rubber grommets to protect the wiring.

Make sure that you connect the wires properly and turn it on and test it to make sure it works. You can set it for either immediate turn on at engine ignition or to power on only when you are in reverse. That’s a personal choice, but the latter is often considered less distracting.

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Safety Tips for Using A Backup Camera System

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011


They call it defensive driving for a reason. Just because you follow the rules of the road does not mean everybody else is going to be as cautious and caring. You may always be on the lookout for foul play but sometimes you just cannot see it coming. That is why it is smart to invest in a backup camera system.

The backup camera system makes the blind spots behind your vehicle easy to check. A few safety tips to keep in mind after the installation of a vehicle backup camera are:

  1. Never stop using your side mirrors. Just because you have a screen on your dashboard doesn’t mean you should start slacking in your normal driving habits.
  2. Make sure the edge of your rear bumper is visible. If so, it should mean that everything behind your vehicle is visible in that in-between space as well. It wouldn’t be very helpful if you created a blind spot in your blind spot.
  3. Mount the camera high enough to get a proper view. Check it regularly to make sure everything is in order.

The set-up of these camera systems is relatively straight-forward. Make sure that the connection is working and that you find the screen’s field satisfying before you start using it regularly. You can always adjust the system when you need to.

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