NHTSA seeks to delay in-vehicle camera regulations

The Detroit News (Washington D.C.) - The Obama administration has asked Congress for more time to finalize proposed new rules that would require carmakers to improve rear visibility in all new vehicles by 2014.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in December that the new regulations would likely lead to automakers installing back-up cameras to all vehicles by 2014 — a move aimed at saving some 100 lives a year, the government said today.

On Friday, the NHTSA asked Congress to grant it more time before it finalizes the rules that were to be completed by Monday.

"The public comment period on this safety proposal only recently closed, and NHTSA has asked Congress for additional time to analyze public comments, complete the rulemaking process and issue a final rule," NHTSA said in a statement today.

In December, the agency announced its proposal that would seek to save about 100 people killed annually when cars mistakenly back over them -- especially small children.

About 100 of the nearly 300 fatalities in back-up crashes each year involve children age 5 or younger and "there are strong reasons ... to prevent these deaths," NHTSA said in announcing the proposed rules. One-third of the deaths involve people 70 and older.

If finalized, the new regulations would cost the auto industry $1.9 billion to $2.7 billion annually, NHTSA said in December.

For vehicles without a display screen, such as those used with in-car navigation systems, the regulation would add $159 to $203 in costs per vehicle. For vehicles with the display, the additional cost would be $58 to $88.

The proposed regulations are intended to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles that make it difficult to see pedestrians, especially the very young and the elderly.

The proposal was in response to the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, which required the agency to address the issue. The 2008 law is named after a boy who was killed when his father accidentally backed over him.

"There is no more tragic accident than for a parent or caregiver to back out of a garage or driveway and kill or injure an undetected child playing behind the vehicle," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in December.

Automakers have been adding video cameras and object detection sensors to vehicles to help drivers when backing up or parking. But the back-up cameras are optional equipment on most vehicles and only about 20 percent of new vehicles have them.

NHTSA argued in December the benefit of adding backup cameras is worth the cost, but drivers are ultimately responsible for making sure they practice safe driving habits.

But the agency acknowledged that by its cost-benefit analysis, the costs to automakers outweighs the number of lives saved. It said the costs per life saved ranged from $11.3 million to $72.2 million -- above its "comprehensive cost estimate for a statistical life of $6.1 million."

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers -- the trade group representing Detroit's Big Three automakers, Toyota Motor Corp., and others, asked NHTSA in comments in early February to give them more time to comply.

"While the alliance supports the need for improvements in rearward visibility, the regulation as proposed involves significant additional cost per vehicle," the group said on Feb. 7.

Under the proposed plan, 10 percent of the country's new vehicle fleet will need to meet the standards by the 2012 model year, followed by 40 percent in 2013 and all new vehicles by 2014.