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Take a closer look at the grid of lines on your backup camera—it could make you a better driver.
Modern cars come with plenty of technological upgrades, but few are as useful as a built-in backup camera. With a direct view from the rear of your vehicle, reversing becomes much easier and safer. Backup cameras are so helpful that, in 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made them mandatory on all new vehicles sold in the United States.
When you shift into reverse, the backup camera activates and displays the area behind your vehicle along with a distinct, often multicolored grid of lines. But what do those lines actually mean? Here’s how to interpret your backup camera guidelines—and how to use them to your advantage.
What Backup Camera Guidelines Tell You
Most backup cameras display two types of guide lines. One set remains stationary, providing a fixed distance reference behind your vehicle. The other set moves as you turn the steering wheel, showing the path your vehicle will follow as you back up.
What Do the Static Lines on a Backup Camera Mean?
The static lines are typically spaced to match the width of your vehicle, making them especially helpful when reversing into tight spaces.
These guidelines are usually divided into three zones that extend outward from the rear bumper. They’re often color-coded to indicate proximity:
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Green: Safe distance
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Yellow: Caution—objects are getting closer
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Red: Very close—risk of contact
If an object such as another vehicle or a garage wall appears in the red zone, you’re extremely close and may have difficulty opening your trunk or hatch without hitting something.
The exact distance represented by the static lines varies by vehicle, but they generally extend about six feet behind the camera. For precise measurements, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
What Do the Moving Lines on a Backup Camera Mean?
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