All new cars sold in U.S. will have a standard rearview camera by 2018

An estimated 58-69 lives to be saved annually

NHTSA's new ruling requires that by 2018 all new cars sold will have to feature a standard rearview camera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ruling was first proposed back in 2010 and requires standard rearview cameras in all new cars and light-duty trucks that have a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,535 kg) by May 2018. Already more than half of the 2014MY sold cars have this equipment and NHTSA believes between 58 and 69 lives could be saved as a result of making rearview cameras standard.

The ruling's first phase will take place after May 2016 when ten percent of all cars within an automaker's lineup will have a standard rearview camera. However, niche automakers like Ferrari are exempt for this initial phase. By May 2017 forty percent of a car company's lineup will feature this equipment as standard, while for the 2019 model year all cars will have it.

NHTSA says approximately 210 people lose their lives (mainly toddlers and elderly adults) annually after being hit by a reversing car while another 15,000 people are injured. The agency estimates car manufacturers will pay an average of 45 USD for each car which already has a video display and up to 142 USD for those that don't.

Source: NHTSA