How a Rear View Camera System Assists Trailers and Fleets
Rearview camera systems are important for anyone who drives a vehicle with a trailer or with blind spots. Rear view cameras can aid vehicle operators in backing up, whether in tight areas or in conditions that are less than optimal to see behind your vehicle. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration more than 180 deaths happen every year due to accidents caused by backing up. A back up camera system could prevent many of those accidents and could save lives.
How Rear View Cameras Work for Vehicles
Rear view cameras are small cameras that are mounted on the back of trucks or other vehicles and give the driver real time video through a screen. These cameras display video in either black and white or color and many use infra-red night vision lights to provide night vision. Most systems are expandable to allow you to mount more than one camera so you can maximize your view and ensure that you’re safe when backing up.
Back up camera systems come in wired and wireless versions. If you choose the wireless version, be sure that the manufacturer accounts for potential interference to ensure that you have a clear picture at all times. Clear pictures are a must when backing up; otherwise you may not see people or potential hazards.
Some rearview camera systems will have a monitor that replaces the rearview mirror, while others have their own separate screen. Depending on your drivers, they will need to train to learn how to properly back up and use the appropriate screen while in reverse.
Commercial Pick-Up Trucks and Fleet Vehicles
Commercial trucks need a back up camera system even if the vehicle is a pick-up. Their long beds and potentially obscuring payloads makes it necessary to have camera systems that can spot potential hazards. Because pick-up trucks and other fleet vehicles have different blind spots, it’s hard to learn where each potential problem area might be. If you use a variety of makes and models in your fleet or if your payloads are constantly changing, rearview camera systems can reduce the liability and the potential injury or death of people around your trucks.
Have a Policy in Place
For those who have commercial vehicles, it is vitally important that you have procedures and policies in place for drivers when backing up. As good as these cameras are, the need for spotters is imperative, especially when working with trailers or commercial vehicles that have no rear views.
