IIHS states the obvious: rearview cameras more effective than parking sensors

Used a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ for testing

An Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) test has concluded rearview cameras are more effective than parking sensors.

They asked 111 volunteers to back up in a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ in an empty parking lot in the Los Angeles area where they put a cutout of a toddler-sized crash test dummy behind the vehicle.

Those who used the rearview camera had fewer collisions but even so 56 percent of them hit the dummy. Only 1 out of 16 drivers who used the parking sensors managed to avoid a collision. IIHS research scientist David Kidd estimates parking sensors would be more useful if they had a larger range so that they could provide an earlier warning for the drivers.

IIHS specifies that when the dummy was in shade, almost all drivers who were looking at the screen hit it. From these results we learn the effectiveness of rearview cameras highly depends on lightning and weather conditions so looking over your shoulder should still be done to minimize the risk of an impact.

The full result findings can be accessed at the source link below.

Source: IIHS