You can't fix stoopid.....

[HairOfTheDog]

There is really no reason to not make the backup cameras available as an option, OPTION, not regulation. This stupid bitch is attention whoring to avoid taking responsibility for it.

I haven't bought a new car in 8 years, but I always chose to buy them stock. I don't need or want electronic locks, airbags, built in navigation, etc... Heat, that's what I want installed when I drive it off the lot. I then buy and install my own stereo system (and now have a plug-in portable GPS).

I think if I bought a new car today, what used to be offered as "options" would be considered "standard". For those features that are standard now due to consumer demand, that's understandable. It's market-driven and you can't please everyone. But, as the article notes, increasingly regulated features have made it difficult for the auto industry to offer affordable vehicles to many people and contributed to the average price of a new car being $25,000. I'm out of date, I guess. That's an insane amount of money to me. I agree with you that optional features are great - the more the better. But, I don't like the government reducing the options available to those of us who like to keep it simple and minimize costs.

Here's a snip from the article that doesn't surprise me:
One recent study by a researcher at Oregon State University found that only one in five drivers used a rearview camera when it was available, but 88 percent of those who did avoided striking a child-sized decoy.

I suspect that the majority of people who neglect to use their rearview mirrors will fail to use the rearview cameras as well.