Having a backup camera included in your new car’s package use to be a choice. However, the United States has now made backup cameras required for all new cars being sold. The push and mandate for backup cameras comes from an increase of accidents. New regulations have made backup cameras required in order to prevent accidents in which pedestrians, often children, are run over because  drivers cannot see them as they back up their vehicles. According to the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 200 people are killed each year, and another 14,000 are injured in accidents relating to a car backing up and the driver not seeing the pedestrian. This requirement came after a series of other mandations to try and make backing up safer. In 2008, Congress passed a law requiring car companies to take measures to adopt technology in cars in order to improve rear view visibility. However, after many delays, the Department of Transportation made backup cameras required in 2014, giving car companies several years to prepare before making it go into full effect. Now, as of May 2018, backup cameras are becoming mandatory. This mandate is for all vehicles under 10,000 pounds. The back up camera must show a 10- foot- by 20- foot zone behind the vehicle.  This requirement isn’t new to all car companies. Many higher- end models and cars already have this option included in many of their packages. However, this technology will now be standard in even the cheapest of new cars being produced. This is likely to increase the cost of building cars, which will be passed on to the consumers. However, the cost is not high compared to the impact it will have to saving lives. Consumers can expect to see just a forty dollar increase in car prices.
 
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