Using A Rear View Mirror Monitor To Reverse? Here’s How To Do It Safely

It appears that, even though more and more people are having accidents while reversing even though a larger number of us have reversing monitors and rear view mirror monitors. So what are we doing wrong and what can we do to resolve the situation? Here are five mistakes that people with a parking monitor commonly make when reversing…

The rear view mirror monitor and rear parking sensor system hasn’t been around for long but there are already signs that people may be relying too heavily on them… or at least not using them as well as they could be.

However, technology is not infallible and recent studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority and AAA Foundation have revealed that some drivers with backing aides like the parking monitor, reversing monitor and rear parking sensor system crashed more often than they should because they didn’t know how to use the devices.

So how should people use the rear view mirror monitor and rear parking sensor system?

While there are few ‘how to guides’ on the interwebs surveys by people like the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority and AAA Foundation do provide useful examples of things not to do.

Here are some tips for drivers with parking monitors and rear view mirror monitors:

Actually use the rear view mirror monitor/ rear parking sensor system.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority drivers with parking monitors and a parking monitor attached to a camera found that drivers with these systems only looked at them 10%-12% of the time they were involved in the movement.

And while that was more than a person with just a rear view mirror (they looked at the mirror just 3% of the time) it still wasn’t enough to save themselves from the times a child would dart into view or something rolled or ran into the path of the car.

Understand that rear parking sensor systems and reversing monitors have limitations too.

While it is true that a rear view mirror monitor will show things at longer distances that can be seen with the plain mirror it isn’t nearly as good as the human eye displaying things close to the car.

And rear parking systems are great for sensing things close up they aren’t nearly as good for things some distance away.

Authorities recommend that people use these systems together to guarantee the best levels of visibility but say that even together they don’t make reversing a completely safe exercise.

There are items which escape their gaze, weather conditions they struggle with and moving hazards that just move too fast to be spotted.

It is also a good idea to know the lux rating of your reversing camera (the light level the camera will work in) as it will help you decide what your rear view mirror monitor is capable of.

Moving hazards can’t be predicted though and it is always wise to take extra precautions, stop before you get to high traffic locations (like footpaths and roadways) and physically look out the side and back windows before reversing any further.

Don’t think you can reverse faster just because of the device

The AAA survey found that people with parking monitors tended to travel faster then they would have if they didn’t have them.

This caused problems, especially when drivers entered areas where there could potentially be foot or vehicle traffic as the driver felt confident enough to reverse out even though there might be a fast-moving hazard approaching.

So essentially drivers still need to take care when reversing, even with the extra help, as it could lead to an accident and a call from a lawyer.

Don’t expect reversing monitors to be there in every car

While the rear view mirror /rear view mirror monitor is a fantastic aide to have in your own car it’s not going to be in every vehicle.

The AAA poll found that several of the people surveyed had accidents in other people’s cars after forgetting that the car they are in doesn’t actually have a rear view mirror monitor.

So, when it is all said and done reversing monitors and rear parking sensor systems are fantastic driver aides to prevent accidents when used correctly. However, as with anything, if the brain isn’t in gear when the car is in motion even the most advanced rear view mirror monitor is going to be any help to the driver.