Are rear-view cameras essential in every car? [Poll of the Week]

There was a time when drivers solely rely on the rearview mirror as well as the side mirrors when backing into a parking space. In some instances, having a spotter to guide you while maneuvering in and out of a parking space is a godsend. Come to think of it, the spotter somehow functions as a driver-assistive tech back in the day.

The rear-view camera can help you see the area behind the vehicle

As time passes, in-car technologies have increased and have even trickled down as standard feature/s in mainstream cars. The tech integrated into cars is meant to give a safer and more pleasant drive to every motorist. Having an extra set of eyes while behind the wheel is a convenience that can add to overall safety.  

Among the common tech found in many recent cars today is the rear-view camera. It shows a live video feed of the area behind the vehicle. The video feed is then shown to the vehicle’s infotainment system, giving drivers a clear view of what’s behind.

In many cars available in the Philippines today, rear-view cameras also come with guidelines where it helps indicate the distance of the vehicle’s rear to any obstacles from behind.

The dynamic guidelines help you see the directional path of the vehicle when reversing

Some rear-view camera also comes with dynamic guidelines where it gives an active directional guide as you rotate the car’s steering wheel. Through this, you’ll have an idea as to what will be the directional path of the vehicle as you reverse or back up. 

Aside from dynamic guidelines, rear-view cameras can also have the option to view different angles. In some cars, you can choose between the following views: Normal, Wide, and Top Down. 

Other cars are also equipped with a 360-degree camera, which can give the driver a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

The 360-degree camera gives you a bird's-eye view

Rear-view cameras indeed give an extra set of eyes, especially when you need to squeeze the car into tight parking spaces. It also allows the driver to have better judgment when he/she is reversing the vehicle. With the view of what’s behind, hitting an obstacle could be reduced to a minimum.

However, having a rear camera can make drivers overly dependent on the said tech, which might lead to neglecting the car’s rearview and side mirrors. One still has the need to understand how the vehicle’s mirrors work for better overall driving safety. There could be instances wherein obstacles could only be seen through the car’s mirrors. This is why drivers should not be overly dependent on the rear camera.

This holds true even if the car comes with a 360-degree camera. You still need to use the mirrors to verify and to be able to evaluate better if the live feed shown by the camera is accurate as to what your car’s mirrors are showing. You should also look at where you’re backing up. A little tilt of one’s head does not require too much effort. Through this, you can have a safer driving experience.

The cameras are just your spotter. It’s still good practice to check your car’s mirrors for good measure. 

That said, do you think that rear-view cameras are essential in every car? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.