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Does Replacing Car Mirrors with Cameras Increase Safety?

December 16, 2019

Virginia Beach car crash lawyers discuss if replacing car mirrors with cameras increase safety.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently trying to acquire outside research and input on whether to allow camera monitoring systems to replace side and rear-view mirrors. If regulators agree to have cameras replace mirrors, drivers will no longer have to worry about turning their necks to check their blind spots. However, the possibility of camera monitoring systems replacing mirrors come with new safety concerns.

Tesla Inc. and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers cited in the benefits of camera use with improved fuel economy through reduced aerodynamic drag. The Auto Alliance also stated that having more than one display inside the car could improve side and rear visibility. Current law requires that all buses and trucks have two outside mirrors positioned so that the driver can have a view of the highway to the rear, and the area along both sides of a commercial vehicle.

Safety Risks of Camera Monitoring Systems

According to the NHTSA, camera monitoring systems can present new safety risks, including display screens that are too bright. This has the potential of making it harder for drivers to see objects on the road ahead of them.

In 2017, the NHTSA tested a prototype camera monitoring system. The results showed that the camera could be used in most situations and produce better quality images than mirrors during dusk and dawn. However, flaws included distorted images as well as displays being too bright at night. The camera lenses also tended to be distorted by raindrops. In 2018, the NHTSA’s examination of a passenger vehicle equipped with a rear-camera system found that even though display glare caused by sunlight was a concern, only minimal glare was found.

The NHTSA believes that camera monitoring systems are a promising technology. However, they also believe that safety concerns should be addressed before proposing amending federal regulations that permit camera monitoring systems replacing mirrors. The agency did not offer a timeline for a final decision. However, changes to auto safety standards normally take years.

Our Virginia Beach Car Crash Lawyers Represent Victims Injured in All Types of Car Accidents

Car accident injuries can range from minor to life threatening. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident, contact a Virginia Beach car crash lawyer today. At East Coast Trial Lawyers, our experienced lawyers will work tirelessly to obtain the compensation you rightfully deserve for your pain and suffering. For a free consultation, contact us online or call us at 757-352-2237. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, we represent accident victims throughout Chesapeake, Eastern Shores, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, as well as North Carolina and nationwide.

Areas We Serve

Our law firm proudly serves clients injured anywhere in Virginia or North Carolina on personal injury claims, including cases with traumatic brain injury, spinal and neck injury, wrongful death, and more serious injuries. As Virginia Beach personal injury attorneys with many years experience, our team of lawyers will be ready to fight for you. If you were injured on the job, our Virginia Beach Workers Compensation lawyers are ready to serve you.

Call 757-352-2237 or fill out the online contact form for a free consultation about your personal injury, workers compensation, or other attorney services. Our firm adopts a team approach to every case, so while one primary lawyer will be assigned to your case, you have the benefit of an experienced team of lawyers, all working on your side. We are located in Virginia Beach, VA, and serve clients who were injured anywhere in Virginia or North Carolina.


301 Bendix Road, Suite 460
Virginia Beach VA 23452
Ph: 757-352-2237 | Fax: 757-994-8910