Rear Camera Screen Permanantly On
Discussion
Hi,
I'll be towing a trailer tent around on our summer holidays this year, but from the drivers seat I can't see the trailer at all unless turning at a junction. For peace of mind I was thinking about one of these plug in camera kits like these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-DOUXURY-Monitor...
The monitor would just be on all the time so that I can see the trailer is still there, but is that legal to have in the car while driving?
I'll be towing a trailer tent around on our summer holidays this year, but from the drivers seat I can't see the trailer at all unless turning at a junction. For peace of mind I was thinking about one of these plug in camera kits like these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-DOUXURY-Monitor...
The monitor would just be on all the time so that I can see the trailer is still there, but is that legal to have in the car while driving?
I think all these screens being used nowadays come down to a "due care and attention" issue, as it seems there are so many screens fitted as standard, its impossible for a "TV" to be obviously illegal etc.
I think that TV and DVD strictly should not be visible by the driver of the vehicle, but clearly a Rear view camera is not a "TV" as such, it is no different to a mirror!
So I would say it is likely legal, as others say, they are standard equipment on some motorhomes, (although presumably homologated as such), so i think you would be fine with a stand alone rear view screen. The grey areas are when you fit a reverse camera to a dash screen that can also play DVDS and TV. I think then, legally, it must be that it cannot play TV and DVD whilst driving (or be polarised so driver cant see), so are set up to and only switch to a camera setting that the driver can see with an input like a reversing light. Which is no good for a rear view camera that you want to look at when going forwards! So then, you have to buy tweaks to allow the screen to work while going forward, and potenitally get in grief if that allows DVDs to play etc.
Long and short, i reckon what you have in mind will be fine. Just be aware that the range at night is quite poor, so you may want to add an IR emitter to help "illuminate" the area with trailer etc on at night, so you can see properly what is going on. If you do, kae sure it is angled to only illuminate the area of the trailer if set to "dazzle" with IR behind, you may get a pull if it is picked up by a following Plod's IR camera!
I think that TV and DVD strictly should not be visible by the driver of the vehicle, but clearly a Rear view camera is not a "TV" as such, it is no different to a mirror!
So I would say it is likely legal, as others say, they are standard equipment on some motorhomes, (although presumably homologated as such), so i think you would be fine with a stand alone rear view screen. The grey areas are when you fit a reverse camera to a dash screen that can also play DVDS and TV. I think then, legally, it must be that it cannot play TV and DVD whilst driving (or be polarised so driver cant see), so are set up to and only switch to a camera setting that the driver can see with an input like a reversing light. Which is no good for a rear view camera that you want to look at when going forwards! So then, you have to buy tweaks to allow the screen to work while going forward, and potenitally get in grief if that allows DVDs to play etc.
Long and short, i reckon what you have in mind will be fine. Just be aware that the range at night is quite poor, so you may want to add an IR emitter to help "illuminate" the area with trailer etc on at night, so you can see properly what is going on. If you do, kae sure it is angled to only illuminate the area of the trailer if set to "dazzle" with IR behind, you may get a pull if it is picked up by a following Plod's IR camera!
It's legal as long as you don't start watching TV on the screen.
The Construction and Use regs mention CRT screens but I'm sure they would also cover LCD / LED / whatever screens.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regu...
The Construction and Use regs mention CRT screens but I'm sure they would also cover LCD / LED / whatever screens.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regu...
P675 said:
Hi,
I'll be towing a trailer tent around on our summer holidays this year, but from the drivers seat I can't see the trailer at all unless turning at a junction. For peace of mind I was thinking about one of these plug in camera kits like these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-DOUXURY-Monitor...
The monitor would just be on all the time so that I can see the trailer is still there, but is that legal to have in the car while driving?
I can set my camera to on all the time, the wires car has surround view you can set to show whilst moving so I can't see the issueI'll be towing a trailer tent around on our summer holidays this year, but from the drivers seat I can't see the trailer at all unless turning at a junction. For peace of mind I was thinking about one of these plug in camera kits like these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-DOUXURY-Monitor...
The monitor would just be on all the time so that I can see the trailer is still there, but is that legal to have in the car while driving?
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