Safety in motor vehicles is a growing concern among lawmakers, auto companies, and consumers, so when less than 30 models received the top safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last year, all involved were disappointed. Many automakers made it a top priority to increase safety in their new car models while consumers and lawmakers called for more focus on overall safety of cars sold in the United States. While it is relatively simple for consumers, auto producers, and legislation officials to voice their concern regarding the safety of motor vehicles, it is much more difficult to accomplish a goal of having more safe cars in the marketplace. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently released its top safety picks for the 2011 model year and there has been a surprising increase in safe cars since last year.

The IIHS reported last week that 66 total cars have received the distinction of being a “top safety pick” for 2011. This number is staggering considering that a mere 27 vehicles received this distinction for the 2010 model year. Experts say that one reason so few automobiles made the list last year was because of new safety standards regarding overall roof strength and their inability to pass the “roof strength test”. These new safety regulations were implemented because of the high volume of rollover accidents that have occurred in recent years. All major automakers have at least one vehicle that has been named a top safety pick, while some companies have multiple cars that made the exclusive list.

Some of the car companies with the most car models on the list are Hyundai, Kia, Audi, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford-Lincoln, Toyota-Scion, Lexus, and Subaru. The IIHS puts vehicles through rigorous crash tests with a special focus on commonly occurring crash types such as side impacts and rollovers. The institute also tests the cars for other factors such as Electronic Stability Control, overall responsiveness, as well as likeliness to protect passengers in a crash.

Safety should be a top concern for consumers and it is vital that automobile producers strive for safety in everything on the market so that consumers have plenty of choices. With such a tremendous increase of safe vehicles in just one year, expectations will be high for the 2012 model year which is great motivation for automakers to constantly improve. The full list of vehicles that were chosen as a top safety pick can be found on the IIHS website at www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx.

Back-up cameras on automobiles are considered a luxury feature by many consumers but soon that “luxury” may be required on all new vehicles. Details regarding this safety proposal was made public last week by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If the proposal is passed into law, the NHTSA would require all commercially produced automobiles to have rear view back-up cameras installed during production by 2014. The proposal suggests that cameras be phased in gradually over the next several years in new cars, trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles. The safety concerns regarding driver visibility when backing a car up has been a hot button topic for many years but in 2007 legislation was passed after several children were killed when cars backed over them.

Research conducted by the NHTSA shows astounding figures with regard to how much rear-view cameras will help prevent injuries and deaths. According to the NHTSA more than 7,000 injuries can be prevented in the U.S. while more than 100 lives may be saved if this back-up camera safety regulation goes into effect.

Children and the elderly are the most common victims of back-over related injuries and deaths in the United States. Most deaths occur in children under the age of five according to the NHTSA. Since almost 20,000 injuries occur every year as a direct result of being backed over, the NHTSA believes that a regulation mandating that cameras be installed in all vehicles is a viable solution to the growing problem.

There will be added costs associated with equipping new vehicles with cameras and other related accessories but the costs per vehicle are very reasonable. For most autos the average cost increase would be around $200, a small price to pay to ensure the safety of our loved ones, animals, and fellow man.

While some naysayers may be screaming about their rights as an American and how this regulation would be another way the government has control, their arguments carry very little weight when it comes to the safety of those around us. Think about it, how often do you begin to back out of a parking space at the local shopping center only have to hit your brakes because you see a glimpse of a person in the spot you thought was clear just a split second earlier?

With a relatively low price increase and potential to prevent thousands of injuries nationwide, it is time for all of us to support the proposed back-up camera regulation; even those people who can’t yet see its importance.