Washington ( CNN ) -- The federal government said it will recommend that new cars have rear-view video systems , a move immediately denounced as `` insufficient '' by safety groups who say the cameras should be mandatory . The camera and monitor system enables drivers to see whether people or objects are in the blind spot behind vehicles . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday it will add the rear-view video systems to its list of recommended features under its New Car Assessment Program , designed to encourage car manufacturers to improve vehicle safety . But safety groups called the action a stalling tactic , saying the agency is dragging its feet in fulfilling a congressionally imposed deadline to issue a rule on rear visibility . Passed in 2008 , the law had a 2011 deadline . The regulation is now two and a half years overdue . Death toll from backover accidents grows . The NHTSA action `` is an inadequate substitute for issuing a mandatory safety regulation , '' Jackie Gillan , president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety , said in a statement . `` In fact , safety advocates are concerned that NHTSA 's announcement is an attempt to divert attention from their failure to act . '' The NHTSA announcement Tuesday came just one day before a group of safety advocates , including two parents who unintentionally hit their children while backing up , was expected to file suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation , which includes NHTSA . The suit is to be filed Wednesday morning by Greg Gulbransen , who reportedly backed over his 2-year-old son , Cameron , in his driveway in 2002 , killing him , and by Susan Auriemma , who backed over her 3-year-old daughter , Kate , in her driveway in 2005 , injuring her . Also joining in the suit will be the Consumers Union of the United States , Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and KidsAndCars.org , those groups said in a statement . The lawsuit asks the court to direct the DOT to issue a mandatory rule within 90 days . Rear-view camera systems are available on seven in 10 new vehicles , as either standard equipment or an option . But the safety groups say the government 's inaction has allowed the death toll in so-called `` backover '' accidents to grow . According to the U.S. Department of Transportation , more than 200 people are killed and 17,000 injured every year in backover crashes , when drivers back up over unseen objects behind them . Children under the age of 5 account for 44 % of the fatalities . In a high percentage of those cases , the motorist is a parent or family member . In December 2010 , NHTSA published a proposed rule and set out to meet a February 2011 deadline for enacting it . On-board cameras , NHTSA said at the time , could cut in half deaths and injuries due to backing crashes , at a cost of about $ 159 to $ 203 per vehicle , or about $ 1.9 billion to $ 2.7 billion a year for the nation 's 16.6 million fleet of new vehicles . ( The price has since fallen , advocates say . ) Fatal wrecks underscore risks for young drivers . But the Department of Transportation twice extended the deadline , first to December 2011 , and again to February 2012 , a deadline it has missed . The DOT said the extensions were necessary because of the `` large volume of public comments and the complexity of some of the issues . '' Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement Tuesday that he remains committed to implementing a new rear visibility rule . But adding rear-view systems to its list of recommended features `` will encourage both automakers and consumers to consider more vehicles that offer this important technology . '' NHTSA said it would include the video system into its New Car Assessment Program in two phases . Starting immediately , the agency will begin identifying on www.safercar.gov vehicle models that have the video systems . Next , as soon as the agency is able to verify that systems meet basic criteria , the agency will recognize those vehicles as having this recommended advanced technology feature on the website .
U.S. agency recommends rear-view video systems on new cars . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recommending that all vehicles be equipped with rear cameras by the end of this year to help prevent crashes. Technology helps prevent `` backover '' crashes .