NHTSA Complaint #10958589 — 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS

THE DESIGN OF BOTH HONDA ACCORD AND TOYATO PRIUS, AND LIKELY OTHERNEW MODEL CARS, MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN BACKING UP. THE BACK UP CAMERA IS PLACED SUCH THAT IT IS EASILY COVERED WITH ROAD DEBRI (DIRT AND SNOW) SO IT OFTEN USELESS. THE DEISGN OF WINDOWS, SEAT AND CAMERA DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ALLOW ONE TO SEE OVER ONES LEFT SHOULDER. PERHAPS THIS IS MORE BECAUSE I AM BARELY 5'1:" AND THE CAR'S SAFETY FORBIDS USING A SEAT CUSHION TO RAISE ME HIGHER. BACKING UP IS FRIGHTENING BUT MANY CAR LOTS REQUIRE YOU TO PULL IN FRONT FORWARD SO PULLING OUT WHEN PEDESTRIANS MIGHT BE BEHIND OR OTHER CARS BACKING UP IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I DROVE A 2007 FORD RANGER OR A 1995 LE BARON CONVERTIBLE. SO FAR I HAVE MANAGED TO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT THINK CARS' DESIGNS DO NOT CONSIDER THIS SITUATION SUFFICIENTLY FOR SAFE DRIVING..