Monitor or Mirror System, Camera or Sensors: How to Make Sense of Your Options

Everyone wants to be safe the moment they step inside the car and take the steering wheel. The same is true for pedestrians- safety on the road is always a concern the moment they leave their house for office or an errand. In Australia alone, more than 200,000 accidents were recorded on the road, and a significant chunk of these are related to unsafe reversing (2016). These are the reasons why many strongly invest in safety on and off the roads and consider the installation of a reversing camera system. A reversing camera system is one of the popular aftermarket safety systems available today designed to provide drivers the extra eyes they need to see the surroundings and the blind side. A complete kit often includes a number of cameras, monitors and cables and other accessories to complete the installation. Kits can come with one, two or even four cameras, and drivers may choose from monitors that are integrated into the factory screen or as stand-alone systems. With these options, many fleet owners and drivers are faced complex decisions to make- what to choose between cameras and reversing sensors, the number of cameras required in the set-up and the type of mirror system to use. If you have the same concerns and questions, then consider the following guidelines.

Reversing cameras or sensors for vehicles?

There are a number of technologies that can help drivers come up with safe reversing. Two of the most popular options available in the market are the reversing cameras and the park-assist sensors? If one base the decision on published and tests, it is clear that the use of reversing cameras provide the best help and efficiency to drivers. According to IIHS studies, the use of reversing cameras can reduce the size if the blind side in a pickup by almost 90 percent, while the addition of sensors can have a ‘slight benefit of 2 percent’ beyond the use of cameras. Proximity or reversing sensors make use of ultrasonic or electromagnetic technology to inform the drivers in case there are objects or individuals standing in the way. Often, the sensors’ range is limited, and ‘smaller objects’ that are located an angle away from the vehicles are not tracked because the sound waves are not reflected back to the reversing sensors.

These usual problems are not present with reversing cameras. But in order to get a complete picture of the surroundings, it’s best to get a high-quality reversing camera that can offer a clear view any time of the day (and night).

Is it time to invest in a monitor or a mirror-based system?

The choice between these two options will ultimately decide on personal preferences and driving styles. There are a number of drivers who will prefer the use of a mirror system because these are fitted in a natural location, and it will not take too much dashboard space. The monitors, on the other hand, may be installed in the dash, and can also work for drivers who are accustomed to having all the safety gadgets in the dash. Monitors come in different designs and configurations. You can choose from a 5-inch or a 7-inch monitor, and the only difference lies in the size of the images presented.

Whether you select an alarm or a camera, or you decide to invest in a mirror or a monitor-based system, what’s important is you take reversing seriously. Having extra eyes on the road can help promote safety at all times.