Is there a way to disable the backup camera on the LX? The Fit is such an easy car to park being so small and with large windows, that it's almost embarrassing to have the need for the camera.


Two of the three views looking directly behind are so distorted that they are completely useless, and to me, it's more of a distraction. It's just easier to rely on the mirrors, or [gasp] turn around and look behind while reversing. I've just gotten into the habit of ignoring the rear view completely since it's utterly useless.

 

If you're turning your head to look back you won't see the backup camera now will you??

 

I back into parking spots all the time, so I actually use mine a lot. It's extremely helpful in my case. You may want to check the owners manual to see if you can disable it, I just don't remember anymore.

 

 

Embarrassing ? Something wrong with you ? Did you know that many kids are killed each year when someone backs up ? Camera is really nice to have to prevent this from happening.


http://www.kidsandcars.org/back-overs.html

 

Ahhhh....very good question and very observant! With any of us, backing up requires sometimes ensuring the front end clears an object while turning the wheel, and also checking the side view mirrors (especially when backing into my tight little parking space). Doing those glances, the changing view on the screen just sometimes catches my eye and is just distracting

 

The easy thing would be to just put a small piece of black tape over the camera ;-)

 

Okay, maybe wrong choice of word, but seriously, if someone can't back up a car the size of a Fit without assistance, then that's worrisome. I can see them being handy on a school bus or semi truck, but a subcompact car just is silly.


According to this CNN article, it's over 200 killed per year: While auto rule lingers 'under review,' death toll grows - CNNPolitics.com


Every child's life is precious and can't be downplayed, but doesn't anyone think that we are overreacting by requiring that all cars be modified to prevent this from happening, which isn't even a guarantee. Plus, shouldn't we take responsibility to look around our surroundings before piloting a one-ton hunk of metal?


To be honest, I think backup cameras may cause more incidents, as people are becoming too reliant on them. The view on many are skewed and don't accurately depict the surroundings or the depth of objects. The camera on the Fit makes objects behind the car look a lot further than they are, and it's not accurate enough to depend on.


An example of my concerns was posted on Edmunds last week, when one of their editors relied solely on the backup camera to reverse their long-term Toyota Highlander into a parking space. They never physically looked behind them and never saw the pipe that was sticking out of the wall a few feet above the ground, resulting in them smashing the rear window. Could've been totally prevented. Why You Shouldn't Always Rely on Technology - 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Long-Term Road Test


Or the ad for the Infiniti QX80 SUV, with the Mom backing up. She never looks behind her or looks around, but luckily the camera catches a car whizzing by as she's reversing. A simple glance around would've also spotted it.


Maybe it's a cultural thing, as I'm not from this country, but it seems like people here don't like claiming responsibility for their actions. They want to blame someone else, or have electronic nannies designed to compensate for either ignorance or laziness. Children being backed over is terrible, but look around the car and reverse slowly and take the effort to turn your head. I just came back from overseas and drove a 2015 model car with no airbags. I'm not suggesting we go back to that, but it was just an observation at the difference, and sometimes the hysteria here, that people have about safety equipment


Sorry, didn't mean for this to become a heated debate on a car forum, lol

 

Seriously though I think there is a way to disable it shown in the manual

I actually use mine with the wide angle to see if cars or people are coming from either side and I can't see that area because of cars around me blocking the view. That is really the only time I ever use it.

 

You make some very salient points. festiboi: 1, haters: 0

 

You are joking, right?

 

No, absolutely serious. I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm the only one who feels this way. Oh well

 

I do both. I especially like the parking view.

 

While I don't rely on it to backup I do find it quite useful to see EXACTLY how much room I have behind me when parallel parking in the city.

 

Technology can't help idiots who don't look, and people who do look generally don't need whiz-bang tech to do so. "Aids" can distract people who already do the right thing.

There are times I would find it useful, but not enough to make sure I get a car that has one.

 

That's a good point. The camera angle that points directly down on the bumper is handy in very tight parallel parking situations in the city. Until I had the Honda, I didn't realize that anyone offered that view. That's about the only time I see the rear camera really being a convenient aid in everyday driving

 

Beautifully said and articulated.

 

It seems callous, but the "if it only saves one child" philosophy is itself flawed. The presence of a camera is no guarantee that it will prevent accidents or that it won't cause an increase in other modes of accidents as drivers learn to rely on the camera. Unfortunately the mandating of cameras has been promoted by a vocal group of people driven by the grief caused by their own inattention.

Even if the 200 deaths per year number is accurate it is still only 0.6% of automotive fatalities. I wonder if there are other places the expense of the camera systems could have been used for a greater reduction in accidents? Automatic braking comes to mind.

 

festiboi: 1, haters: 0 ???.......festibol is the hater (of rear view camera's).

 

So is there a way to disable the camera?

The world may never know...