child safety

Can you feel it in the air? Something has changed...October is Fall Care Car Month! It's important to give your car a little extra attention before winter sets in.

Auto Care

Here are some tips from The Car Care Council.

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
2. Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.
3. Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
4. Check the...

It's the dog days of summer! Are you going on a family vacation? I'm jealous. Here are some summer road trip tips from AAA to make sure your trip doesn't have any problems.

Before You Go

• Tires should be properly inflated and in good condition.
• Fluids should be topped-off or changed, if they are dirty or contaminated.
• The radiator and cooling system should be checked for proper operation.
• Belts and hoses should be in tip-top shape.

It's always a good idea to get everything checked out before a big trip. That way you can fix any problems and it gives you peace of mind.

Travel Planning

• Emergency Kit...

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) announced a bill that would require automatic notifications of driver violations to school districts as well as school bus companies within 24 hours. This would allow the organizations to take faster actions. The bill was written in response to New Jersey crash in May that killed a teacher and a student.

“Miranda’s Law,” is being proposed to help support the SECURES Act, which would make lap-shoulder seat belts the nationwide standard for school buses. The bill would require a nationwide employer notification service for buses. This would give...

Hot car deaths already on the rise in 2018. 7 children have already lost their lives due to vehicular heatstroke. It only takes 30 minutes sitting in 75 degree temperatures to warm up the inside of a car to over 100 degrees.

According to noheatstroke.org, 749 children have died due to pediatric vehicular heatstroke since 1998.

These are not isolated events.

Brilliant Backseat

Rear View Safety developed the Brilliant Backseat Reminder System so you won’t forget any precious cargo left in the backseat. The Brilliant Backseat is equipped with two distinct alarms to alert you, or those nearby...

Accidents with industrial heavy duty commercial vehicles are dangerous and expensive. The last count by the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 4,600 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a report that found that up to half of all industry fatalities are partially caused by heavy equipment.

We designed the RVS-123 Radar Object Detection System to protect your fleet.

The RVS-123 uses radar technology to detect stationary objects and people...

One of my favorite parts of my job is our webinar series. I love being able to interact live with our customers, answer questions and help keep them safe. Our next webinar is this Wednesday 2:00-2:30 EST. The topic is new vehicle safety solutions. Reserve your seat here.

Webinar Series

Watch a few of our past webinars below. You can also check out our YouTube Channel to watch them all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwskkWyR6E0&index=1&list=PLgKy4xHDDcfSE603x68vJZctdGJcenTA_

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHmt5rzgOyY&t=21s

I'm very excited to announce our RVS-96D 9" LED 6 Channel Split Screen Monitor with Built-In DVR as our February product of the month. The amazing monitor is the ultimate solution for your RV, bus, or emergency vehicle, allowing you to easily view and record all angles simultaneously.

An included GPS receiver records vehicle location and speed. Six trigger wires allow the operator to automatically view specific cameras based on user actions, such as viewing the backup camera when the vehicle is put into reverse.

This unique monitor also features multiple viewing options and a touch screen...

A new study by Consumer Reports states that hot cars can be a threat for children year round, not just during the summer months.

Testing showed that the temperature inside a car reaching more than 105° F in just an hour, even with a temperature outside of 61°F.

"Temperatures that might seem comfortable for adults can quickly become dangerous for children," said Orly Avitzur, M.D., medical director for Consumer Reports in a statement. "And elderly passengers who can't care for themselves, or those with cognitive problems, can also be at risk if they're left in a car on even a mild day."

An Epidemic...

I am proud to announce the 2nd in our Simplesight™ wireless series. An innovative 3 channel system (two wired, one wireless), the RVS-355W is that's ideal for truck and trailer applications.

The base system includes a 7" LED monitor and waterproof heavy duty wireless backup camera. Up to two wired side cameras can be added to this system, making it both wired and wireless.

RVS-355W Simplesight™ Wireless Camera System

• 7" LED Digital Monitor with Suction Cup Mount
• Waterproof Backup Camera with Infra-Red Night Vision
• Two Wired inputs - Connect Up To...

I have good news and bad news. First the good news. According to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about 91% of adults always use seat belts in the front seat. Now here's the bad news. Only 72% of adults use seat belts when they are in the back of a car.

"For most adults, it's still as safe to ride in the back seat as the front seat, but not if you aren't buckled up," says Jessica Jermakian, an IIHS senior research engineer and a co-author of the study. "That applies to riding in an Uber, Lyft or other hired vehicle, too."

Oh, it's Safer?

Why the drop? The most common...

U.S. Representatives Tim Ryan (D-13th OH), Peter King (R-2nd NY) and Jan Schakowsky (D-9th IL) recently introduced the Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats Act (HOT CARS Act of 2017, H.R. 2801). The act requires technology in passenger vehicles to alert the driver when a passenger is left in the back seat.

This bipartisan initiative would prevent deaths and injuries caused by vehicular heatstroke. It is the first step to prevent this horrible problem. Reminder systems for headlights, doors, keys and seat belts already exist in many cars.

According to Kids and Cars, this year...

5. So far this year 5 children have lost their lives due to vehicular heatstroke. According to Kids and Cars, 39 children passed away from vehicular heatstroke in 2016. The average number of child fatalities from vehicular heatstroke per year since 1998 is 37. That’s one death every 9 days.

This is an epidemic, these are not isolated events.

I’m at a loss for words. This can happen to anyone. The only thing on my mind are my nieces and nephews, my friends’ children, and my future children. We can stop this.

Kids and Cars have announced April 26^th as National Child Vehicular Heatstroke Awareness...

I live down the block from the Brooklyn Tesla Motors showroom. It's fun to see the futuristic cars zipping around my neighborhood. I was very excited to help with this podcast. I've never ridden in one, but hope to take a test drive soon.

Tesla Motors Club Forum

In the podcast below we interview Andy Wallenstein, a member of the Tesla Motors Club forum. We speak about what makes Tesla special and the benefits of a dash camera.

As a member of the forum since 2014, Andy is active in assisting other Tesla owners and has worked with RVS on creating a group deal on a Blackvue dash camera for Tesla...

While walking to work today I saw a cyclist hit a hidden patch of ice and fall onto the street. I quickly ran over to see if he was ok, and luckily he seemed alright. A bit shaken, but alright. He didn’t have a helmet on, but caught himself on his hands before his head hit the cement. Thankfully no cars were coming. He was riding on a pretty busy street. It got me thinking about safety laws.

“I should be wearing a helmet, but I left it at work and I’m not going very far. I’ll slow down,” he assured me before zipping down Van Brunt St.

Of course, he should wear a helmet. Everyone should wear a helmet...

I don't fly that often. Maybe once a year to visit home. I usually pick a super early flight and just sleep the entire way. No problem. That's why I was initially confused when I read a headline that the government may soon allow Wi-Fi connected phone calls on flights. Why would you need to make a call on an airplane? I've used Wi-Fi on a plane, but never lamented that I can't make a call while in the air. I ride the bus nearly every day, and it's very annoying when someone is on the phone. Someone is always on the phone.

After reading the story, the reason became obvious. It's for work. If you...

When I was younger I did a lot of stupid things. I’ve driven while eating soup, cereal, and even hot pockets. It’s absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable. I don’t drive a lot anymore, but I when I do I am 100% committed to the task at hand, driving!

3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014. Recently the NHTSA announced their 2^nd phase of voluntary guidelines to address distracted driving.

The first phase encouraged automakers to design less distracting devices or systems at the time of manufacture. This second phase encourages...

Last week while we were in Kansas, Kelly got the dreaded phone call. Her friend Janis called from the hospital to say she had gotten hit by a car while walking to work. She didn’t have any serious injuries but her back was hurt and she was understandable very shaken. It was early, and the driver didn’t see Janis and hit her while he was turning.

Now that we’re back in town we’re going to visit Janis. She left the hospital, but is taking another week off work.

Here at Rear View Safety we keep people safe. From backup camera systems to backup sensor systems to driver fatigue systems and everything...

We were consulted for a Commercial Carrier Journal article on backup cameras. Happy to lend our expertise to a great site.

Electronics have infiltrated practically every corner of the modern truck cab in an ongoing effort to make driving safer and easier, and backing up – often an afterthought when it comes to driving – has been thrust into the foreground as of this year with plenty of techno-aids in tow.

Rearview cameras are increasingly common on the road and were implemented as standard equipment on passenger cars beginning with the 2016 model year.

In 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation...

If you’re still new to driving, it can be tricky to stay out of people's way on the highway. Most people don’t know how to handle fast drivers. Here’s what you need to know.

Take Someone With You

Ideally, you would take a few extra driving lessons prior to your test, and spend some time taking defensive driving classes so you can get experience with more advanced aspects of driving. But, if you can’t do that, it’s a great idea to take someone with you when you drive. Maybe you could convince your parent or an experienced friend to come along with you.

Avoid taking a car full of friends on your...

Crash test dummies have long been used to simulate accidents in the front seat. It’s time for them to switch seats. Pressure is on to better protect rear passengers, as ride-sharing programs such as Uber and Lyft are putting more people in the backseat. Starting in 2019, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will test crash test dummies in the back seat as part of its 5-Star Safety Ratings Program. While this program is 38 years old, it has only tested and rated driver and front passenger seats thus far.

“People assume a 5-star rating extends to all seating locations, but it...