Car Companies Petition Government To Remove Mirrors From Cars

• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2014-04-06 08:21
  http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/05/tesla-aam-replace-side-mirrors-video-cameras/
  
  Tesla and an alliance of 12 other car companies are requesting the government removed the laws about cars having side/rear view mirrors so that they can create cars that are "More stylish and aerodynamic" instead using cameras like the back-up cameras some newer cars have installed.
  
  This seems pretty stupid to me. Technology isn't perfect. The camera can break, or get scratched, or get cloudy, or short out, or have a loose wire, or get covered by dirt/snow/rain/etc. Not to mention the position of the monitor. Staring at your radio while going 80 on the highway and getting ready to merge/change lanes? Yeah. Seems safe to me.
  
  Adding cameras is fine, but the mirrors need to be left on as a backup for when shit hits the fan.
  
  Not to mention the price to fix it. I would rather pay $5 for some tape to reattach a mirror than the hundreds of dollars they would charge for a new camera plus the labor of removing the camera, putting a new one in, doing all the wiring, etc.
• Aubog007 wrote on 2014-04-06 09:27
  I understand their complaint but sacrificing safety for style? No thank you
• SlurpTASTY wrote on 2014-04-06 09:55
  The camera breaking isn't really an issue in luxury cars but I do agree with everything else you pointed out. It would be silly for them to remove the mirrors due to all the safety issues it would cause, not to mention side view mirrors look badass on BMWs so maybe tesla just needs to work harder on making them look qt.
• Aubog007 wrote on 2014-04-06 10:22
  Also there are a lot of shitty drivers out there who barely look at their side mirrors when lane merging. Good lord the accidents waiting to happen.
• Chiyuri wrote on 2014-04-06 13:04
  most of the reason that can make the camera unuseble can also apply to side mirrors and people still used them without any other safety measures.
  I personnaly don't see the issue with replacing both mirrors with two camera.
• Osayidan wrote on 2014-04-06 13:11
  At this moment I disagree with this but once the technology is widely available for a HUD (heads up display) on the windshield I would be all for it. If you can display the camera video right on the windshield it would be just as safe if not safer than having to turn your head to look at mirrors, especially the one on passenger side.
  
  With technology like that it could even get to the point where it detects and warns you about assholes driving too close in your blind spots.
  
  After a while mirrors just won't be used anymore regardless of the law.
• Elleanior wrote on 2014-04-06 13:31
  ...Dear God... :fail:
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2014-04-06 15:25
  I don't have any experience driving so I can't really formulate much of an opinion about this article. But when I do start driving, saftey will be my primary concern. Now if the cameras allow for easy viewing of my surroundings without me having to constantly turn my head then I'm all for it as it would make it much easier to drive and be safer.
  
  However, technology is never 100% perfect and is prone to breaking so having a backup mirror would not be a bad idea especially as a cheaper option for those who can't afford fancy technology.
• Chockeh wrote on 2014-04-06 17:29
  I love Tesla, but this is stupid.
• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2014-04-06 21:01

  Quote from SlurpTASTY;1213132:

  The camera breaking isn't really an issue in luxury cars

  
  
  It's not just for luxury cars though, it's for all cars. Starting in 2018 all cars made after 2016 are required to have the back-up camera, not just the luxury ones. So they want to get rid of mirrors for all cars and replace them with cameras (Which would make even non-luxury cars raise in price).
  
  

  Quote from Osayidan;1213156:

  At this moment I disagree with this but once the technology is widely available for a HUD (heads up display) on the windshield I would be all for it. If you can display the camera video right on the windshield it would be just as safe if not safer than having to turn your head to look at mirrors, especially the one on passenger side.
  
  With technology like that it could even get to the point where it detects and warns you about assholes driving too close in your blind spots.
  
  After a while mirrors just won't be used anymore regardless of the law.

  
  
  True, if we had that it would at least be a little better, though I would still say the mirrors should stay as a just-in-case thing. If they are really that worried about them ruining the look of the car they could make them fold out so you can stash them away when you don't need them.
  
  

  Quote from Kingofrunes;1213179:

  Now if the cameras allow for easy viewing of my surroundings without me having to constantly turn my head then I'm all for it as it would make it much easier to drive and be safer.

  
  
  

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7YFZF.png]

  
  
  The camera is located around the same area as the radio in a car, so it forces you to take your eyes even further off the road than the mirrors do, especially if your vision isn't the best and you have to lean in and squint at it. That's why it's only been used as a back-up camera until now, because it's not safe at all to do while driving.
• Yoorah wrote on 2014-04-07 01:33
  What's with the silly assumption that car makers like Tesla would be dumb about implementing this? To me it's pretty obvious that they wouldn't place the monitors for these cameras in the infotainment console; they'd either work hard to keep ergonomics the same (place side monitors close to the field of view of where the mirrors are currently seen) or make further optimization to the current usage model by the use of a HUD of sorts (this is more difficult, but new technology was recently developed, which could make it viable.)
  
  Come on, people... this is Elon Musk we're talking about. You know, the guy who revolutionized online payments by creating PayPal. He's also revolutionized the performance electric car industry with Tesla Motors, and then there's him taking on the space industry with SpaceX. The guy literally builds cutting edge space ships, which, traditionally, only governments could be capable of. And you think he can't design a properly working side view camera system for cars? :P
  
  

  Quote from SlurpTASTY;1213132:

  The camera breaking isn't really an issue in luxury cars but I do agree with everything else you pointed out. It would be silly for them to remove the mirrors due to all the safety issues it would cause, not to mention side view mirrors look badass on BMWs so maybe tesla just needs to work harder on making them look qt.

  
  It gives a boost in efficiency roughly equivalent to 1 MPG, which is a goal worth pursuing by itself. Safety could actually be improved; current side view mirrors are by no means perfect. A smart camera system could provide a much better situational awareness.
  
  And plz. BMW makes crap cars these days. Tesla's Model S > BMW in both performance, safety, reliability and (arguably) sexyness. x)
  
  I say more power to them. We don't need laws artificially slowing down what could be great innovation. Let them make these cars and let's see how it turns out; I don't think the companies can afford to make a mistake here, so I for one am optimistic.
• SlurpTASTY wrote on 2014-04-07 01:46

  Quote from Yoorah;1213312:

  
  
  And plz. BMW makes crap cars these days. Tesla's Model S > BMW in both performance, safety, reliability and (arguably) sexyness. x)
  
  

  
  
  The sales speak for themselves buddy.
• frncsjhnhawaii wrote on 2014-04-07 02:00
  I think there should always be mirrors but the cameras would be a nice luxury. Can't these companies compromise by having sleek folding mirrors as back up in case a camera goes out but can't get it repaired right away? I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has had something happen to their car while away.
• Chockeh wrote on 2014-04-07 02:19

  Quote from Yoorah;1213312:

  
  And plz. BMW makes crap cars these days. Tesla's Model S > BMW in both performance, safety, reliability and (arguably) sexyness. x)
  

  
  
  Model S is so damn sexy.
• Friggerton wrote on 2014-04-07 04:01
  I'm surprised they don't just try to make more "stylish and aerodynamic" housings for the mirrors.