Pam Olinger - Comment

What is the asking price for the most vulnerable members of society? With respect to the proposed improvements in rear visibility of motor vehicles, the cost is small, yet the gains are insurmountable. While the implementation in expansion of the rear-visibility of vehicles may lead to increased costs associated with a vehicle’s price and reoccurring maintenance fees for enhanced visibility systems (i.e. rear-video systems), the lives saved among children and the elderly will grossly overshadow the fees associated with the safety measures. The NHTSA notes, “Every year, nearly 300 people are killed and 18,000 more are injured when someone, often a parent or grandparent, backs over them”. Some view this matter as a direct result of negligence of the vehicle operator, and simply a training issue. This sentiment will provide no value to improving the future of back-over deaths and injuries, and grants little solace to folks who have experienced a family death related to these types of vehicle accidents. Ignoring, blaming or discounting the notion that this is an issue which is of value will only increase the likelihood that the annual deaths will continue. Charles Hummell once said, “The past cannot be regained, although we can learn from it; the future is not yet ours even though we must plan for it…..Time is now. We have only today.” Today, we must act to fully-support the plan and advance the actions to increase rear-visibility of vehicles proposed by the NHTSA.