Is it necessary to install both a reversing camera and reversing radar?
3 Answers
If conditions permit, both can be installed. If not, either one can be chosen based on the situation. Here is an introduction to reversing radar: Principle of reversing radar: The reversing radar emits ultrasonic waves through ultrasonic sensors. When the ultrasonic waves hit an obstacle and reflect back, they are received by the ultrasonic sensors. The controller then calculates the distance to the obstacle based on the time taken for the ultrasonic waves to be emitted and returned. Finally, the buzzer emits a rapid alarm sound to alert the driver. Main functions of reversing radar: Accurately measure the distance between the rear of the vehicle and the nearest obstacle; emit a rapid warning sound when reversing to the limit distance to remind the driver to brake; repeatedly emit a voice warning sound to alert pedestrians.
As a veteran truck driver with twenty years of experience, I consider both radar and rearview cameras essential. The rearview camera provides a clear view of what's directly behind the vehicle, but it falls short when it comes to blind spots like low posts or small animals near the rear corners. Especially on rainy nights when the camera lens gets blurred, the beeping radar can be a lifesaver. Once during a rainy day, my camera was completely obscured by mud, and it was only the radar's frantic beeping when I was just ten centimeters away from a fire hydrant that saved me from a collision. If you frequently reverse in complex environments, skimping on radar is not an option—one repair bill from a scrape could easily cover the cost of installing ten radar systems. My advice? If your budget allows, install both, especially for larger vehicles like SUVs with more blind spots.
From my wife's experience getting her driver's license, novice drivers especially need double protection. The reversing camera displays distance and route intuitively like a game interface, but you have to stare at the screen intently, easily overlooking dynamic situations. The radar is different—it alerts you to the direction whenever an object approaches, like having an assistant beside you shouting 'obstacle 30 centimeters to the left rear.' That time when I took my parents to the hospital, the underground garage had pillars as dense as a maze. If the radar hadn't alerted me to the pillar's position while turning, the rear door would have been scratched. In fact, the radar sensor is only about the size of a teacup lid, installed on the rear bumper and hardly noticeable, but the sense of security it provides is priceless.
