Effective May 1, 2018, rearview cameras are required on new vehicles of up to 10,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight in the United States.
The new Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, FMVSS 111, “includes requirements for image size, response time, deactivation, durability, default view and linger time,” according to a posting on the website of the National Truck Equipment Association.
Those affected by the new rules include the following:
• truck equipment distributors and upfitters working with vehicles governed by the new regulation who may need to install or relocate the rearview camera to ensure all requirements are met;
• fleet managers, who will want to monitor compliance for their upfitted vehicles; and
• equipment manufacturers, who want to understand the design implications for truck-mounted equipment that can affect rearview camera placement and to assist upfitter customers with their conformance responsibilities.
An equivalent standard will take effect in Canada on May 1, 2019.
The NTEA has developed a test manual and kit has been developed to help upfitters meet the new federal rearview visibility requirements.
The standard “specifies requirements for the performance, number, reflective surface area, magnification, labeling and location of rearview mirrors,” according to the NTEA.
More information is available at www.ntea.com/fmvss111rearvisibility.