Honda Ditches Side Cameras for Rear Radars
» Posted April 8, 2019 • Resources | Share This Post
Honda is discontinuing its LaneWatch camera monitoring system in favor of rear radars to help drivers keep an eye on their blind spots.
The company is shifting toward “traditional” blind-spot monitoring technology, Honda senior product manager Gary Robinson recently told reporters in New England. That means using radar systems—which are becoming increasingly common in new cars—to monitor the flanks of the vehicles and alert drivers when other cars get close.
The decision is likely a reflection of the decreasing cost associated with the radar systems. Honda originally opted for LaneWatch, which uses a camera strapped to the passenger side door mirror, to limit the costs for drivers who want to know what’s in the spaces they can’t easily see. The system also provided guidelines in the video feed to help drivers gauge the distance of other cars around them.
Honda has already dropped LaneWatch from several new models. That includes the 2019 CR-V and 2019 Pilot sport utility vehicles. Critics had complained that the system can be distracting by blocking navigation controls and noted that it only provided a blind spot view for vehicles’ passenger sides.
Safety Concerns for Car Owners
Honda’s move to radar should help enhance the safety protections for owners and lessors who choose the feature. That is if the technology actually works as intended.
The sad fact is that many new vehicles come equipped with hard to spot defects that can make life on the road hazardous. Honda owners recently flooded the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with complaints about rising oil levels in their CR-Vs that may have caused some cars to stall unexpectedly.
That’s where the California Lemon Law comes in. Officially named the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the law requires automobile manufacturers to repair defective vehicles while the cars are still under warranty. If those repair efforts are not successful—or if the manufacturer refuses to make repairs—the law obligates the car maker to take the vehicle back and compensate the owner or lessor for related costs. That includes the purchase price, financing costs and other expenses associated with the purchase of the car or caused by the defects.
The law also allows a manufacturer to offer to replace the vehicle. It’s ultimately the owner or lessor’s choice whether to accept a replacement car.
Our California Lemon Law Attorneys Can Help You
The California Lemon Law lawyers at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. Haggling with car dealers and manufacturers can be a difficult and stressful experience. Our lawyers take the burden off of the people that we represent by working aggressively to resolve their cases. We do not charge upfront fees in most cases.
Our offices are conveniently located in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
