FEATURE STORY:
Power Acoustik announced its entry into driver safety during the SEMA Show last week.
Its new products include a wireless backup camera plus backup sensor embedded in a license plate frame designed to work over WiFi with an iPhone or Android phone as the monitor. The WRVC-2 includes a camera with a one-wire connection to the backup light so the device automatically turns on when the car goes into reverse. It also automatically activates an app to wake up the phone.
The system can also be connected to a car radio or dash cam. It comes with 20 feet of installation cable.
The WRVC-2 will ship within 30 days at a suggested retail price of $99.
Power Acoustik’s Paul Goldberg said, there are 50,000 to 75,000 rollover accidents a year that could be prevented by a backup camera.
Power Acoustik is also releasing a DVR with driver safety features. The user-installable DVALT just began selling at Walmart (at 3,000 stores) and is now being offered through general distribution.
The windshield mounted dashcam offers forward collision warning, lane departure warning as well as DVR recording at $79.
Goldberg said mass merchants are starting to invest in driver safety devices that may be installed by users.
“Fifty percent of accidents are now either front crash or blind spot or lane departure problems. This [dashcam] could reduce your likelihood of a high speed crash by half,” said Goldberg, adding, “Farmers, State Farm, Kemper, and 21st Century now offer 10 percent discounts on premiums for this type of equipment. If you spend $1,000 a year, then a 10 percent discount makes this device free.”
