Driver facing camera in rear view mirror?

[drunds]

I care a lot about privacy and that is what has drawn me to buying a slate. Someone posted this photo earlier of the slate's windshield console with what was described as a camera sensor module above the rear view mirror.

Can anyone verify if there is a camera in this location?

I was happy to find out the slate wouldn't come with a telemetry module, but this would be a big buzzkill if they really put a camera pointed at us in the cabin.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I care a lot about privacy and that is what has drawn me to buying a slate. Someone posted this photo earlier of the slate's windshield console with what was described as a camera sensor module above the rear view mirror.

Can anyone verify if there is a camera in this location?

I was happy to find out the slate wouldn't come with a telemetry module, but this would be a big buzzkill if they really put a camera pointed at us in the cabin.

Say what?
That would make no sense cost-wise but would be awesome bc I’d co-opt the power supply for a garage door opener!

 

[kvermeer]

I care a lot about privacy and that is what has drawn me to buying a slate. Someone posted this photo earlier of the slate's windshield console with what was described as a camera sensor module above the rear view mirror.

Can anyone verify if there is a camera in this location?

I was happy to find out the slate wouldn't come with a telemetry module, but this would be a big buzzkill if they really put a camera pointed at us in the cabin.

The camera in this unit will be forward-facing. As the Slate website says under "Safety":

Every Slate comes with a forward-facing camera included (it’s a requirement, actually). This enables Forward Collision Warning and Active Emergency Braking, with night and pedestrian detection.

It's looking out of that bulge forward through the windshield, not rearwards into the cabin.

Slate doesn't have ADAS systems like lane keeping and radar cruise that would create a need to run cameras inside for driver alertness monitoring. It also doesn't have a cellular radio (unless you order the telemetry module for fleet monitoring) so it can't upload the camera images anywhere even if it did have interior cameras.

 

[Johnologue]

I believe the camera in that "windshield console" is front-facing for AEB, which is why it's flush with the glass and creates a visible "notch" from the outside.

 

[drunds]

Okay, as long as the camera doesn't face inwards then I am okay with that.

A lot of us have been wary of the infamous NHTSA 2021 impaired driver technology mandate and want to avoid anything like that coming to the slate. It is becoming impossible to find a cheap simple truck that just works and doesn't spy on you these days. The slate is our last hope on that front.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Okay, as long as the camera doesn't face inwards then I am okay with that.

A lot of us have been wary of the infamous NHTSA 2021 impaired driver technology mandate and want to avoid anything like that coming to the slate. It is becoming impossible to find a cheap simple truck that just works and doesn't spy on you these days. The slate is our last hope on that front.

Isn’t there some new legislation to undo that rule working its way through Congress now?

“No Kill Switches in Cars Act (H.R. 1137). Introduced by Representative Scott Perry, the bill aims to repeal the requirement from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directing safety regulators to mandate passive anti-drunk driving systems in new passenger vehicles”

 

[Auer]

“No Kill Switches in Cars Act (H.R. 1137). Introduced by Representative Scott Perry, the bill aims to repeal the requirement from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directing safety regulators to mandate passive anti-drunk driving systems in new passenger vehicles”

Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Responsibility.org actively lobby against H.R. 1137, arguing that repealing the mandate would cost thousands of lives by delaying the deployment of proven impaired-driving prevention technology.
https://madd.org/position-statement...l-amendment-to-repeal-halt-drunk-driving-law/

Political analysts widely view H.R. 1137 as a "messaging bill." Its primary function is to galvanize a specific political base around themes of privacy, anti-regulation, and resistance to federal mandates, rather than to serve as a viable, standalone law.

Personally I dont think H.R. 1137 will pass.

 

[EV Trek]

They’ll just let your phone watch you.. lol

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Responsibility.org actively lobby against H.R. 1137, arguing that repealing the mandate would cost thousands of lives by delaying the deployment of proven impaired-driving prevention technology.
https://madd.org/position-statement...l-amendment-to-repeal-halt-drunk-driving-law/

Political analysts widely view H.R. 1137 as a "messaging bill." Its primary function is to galvanize a specific political base around themes of privacy, anti-regulation, and resistance to federal mandates, rather than to serve as a viable, standalone law.

Personally I dont think H.R. 1137 will pass.

You are probably right. I suppose that politically it will be the recorded tally marks vs the outcome anyway.

There are already lots of poorly conceived devices that prevent drunk drivers from driving their own devices drunk (the breathalyzer that allows ignition, etc).

I’ve seen patients stranded bc the devices fail and nobody answers at the central command to override the faulty equipment and allow the vehicle to run..,so the person pays for a tow, loses their job, and …

Part of that is supposed to be some sort of punishment for non-fatal DWI, I guess?

I don’t need a kill switch. I married a Sicilian. She’ll get the job done some day, I’m sure of it.

 

[Auer]

TBH I am more concerned about Telemetrics and modems than any camera at this stage.

Our Hybrid CRV has cameras everywhere but no modem.
Leave the phone home and you might be somewhat "Off the grid".

 

[sodamo]

I care a lot about privacy and that is what has drawn me to buying a slate. Someone posted this photo earlier of the slate's windshield console with what was described as a camera sensor module above the rear view mirror.

Can anyone verify if there is a camera in this location?

I was happy to find out the slate wouldn't come with a telemetry module, but this would be a big buzzkill if they really put a camera pointed at us in the cabin.

Did you see or read anything onthe official Slate website to indicate such?

 

[KevinRS]

Okay, as long as the camera doesn't face inwards then I am okay with that.

A lot of us have been wary of the infamous NHTSA 2021 impaired driver technology mandate and want to avoid anything like that coming to the slate. It is becoming impossible to find a cheap simple truck that just works and doesn't spy on you these days. The slate is our last hope on that front.

Yeah, though the rules were already supposed to be in place on that, I think one of the main issues is the tech still isn't there. The 3 possible methods are a touch sensor, a breath sensor, and cameras.

"At this time, NHTSA is not aware of any technology that claims to achieve anywhere close to this level of accuracy in minimizing false positives (misclassifying a sober driver as impaired) and false negatives (failing to detect an impaired driver), and no such capabilities have been verified independently to date."

That is from the report to Congress from February, they have to report yearly on why they haven't passed a rule. Once they do pass a rule, automakers will have a couple of years to comply and add the systems.

 

[007]

The "camera" watches for kids in the street so you don't hit them. It's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

 

[Adam W]

It's worth noting that the roof mounted mirror assembly has changed dramatically since I took that photo.

 

[r6tn]

Say what?
That would make no sense cost-wise but would be awesome bc I’d co-opt the power supply for a garage door opener!

You can solder wires to a garage door opener and run them to a button and avoid needing a power supply, just change the battery every few years. Mine seem to work a lot better hidden in the dash than attached to the visor too.