Annual global crash statistics show that 1.2 million people die annually in road crashes with another 30 million people being injured or disabled. This has forced automobile manufacturers to set goals that revolve around reducing accidents and accident-related fatalities as we head into the future. To do this, these manufacturers have leveraged on new car technology trends.
For a car to be classified as being safe, the basic safety features comprising of safety belts and airbags no longer suffice. Car manufacturers need to incorporate sophisticated technologies to ensure maximum safety. We take a look at 3 proven technologies.
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Collision Prevention Technology
Most car accidents are usually characterized by collisions with other vehicles or structures. A reliable auto insurance policy serves as a great safety net but what if you could prevent the collision in the first place? Enter collision prevention technology, one of the most popular being emergency brake assist technology. Timely application of brakes is the only solution to avoid a collision. However, human reaction time is mostly inadequate necessitating additional help. The emergency brake assistant is able to identify when panic braking is done and in turn initiate maximum braking faster than humanly possible.
Front collision prevention is another useful car safety technology. It involves incorporating systems that are able to detect frontal objects to prevent collisions. Installed radar systems are able to scan vehicles, people or any other objects in front of a car. The system then monitors the frontal distance as well as speeds and notifies the driver through a set warning mechanism. In case of slow or no response from the driver, the car automatically brakes the vehicle which avoids impact or reduces its effects. Where impacts occur, automatic crash notifications kick in. The system automatically contacts emergency services since most accident victims are usually incapacitated and hence unable to call for help.
Self Driving Technology
With driverless car developments being in the final stages as showcased by companies such as Tesla, many self-driving features are being fitted in most newly produced cars. Self-driving technology helps minimize human errors which in turn improves car safety. One of the most common and extremely useful features is adaptive cruise control technology. A car is fitted with sensors that are able to calculate relative positions and speeds of adjacent vehicles. With this information, the car is able to automatically adjust a vehicle’s speed by speeding, slowing down or bringing it to complete stop autonomously to avoid collisions.
Remotely enforced speed limits technology is another aspect of self-driving tech being used by manufacturers to improve car safety. Pioneered by manufacturers of Volvo, it involves the use of GPS to map out areas where cars will automatically need to be slowed down. An example of such an area being a school. A driver driving at high speeds will automatically be slowed down when a car GPS coordinates detects the presence of a school nearby. The system, also being able to detect prevailing weather conditions, will additionally be able to limit the speed of a car in icy or foggy conditions.
Phone Safety Integration
Since their inception, people have been inseparable with their smartphones with many texting or calling while driving. These smartphones have for a long time now acted as catalysts for the rise of traffic-related accidents. This has necessitated developments of apps by smartphone manufacturers that can be integrated with a car’s infotainment system. Through a phenomenon called hands-free technology, drivers are able to make calls, receive a call and read a text message without touching their smartphone. This allows them to concentrate on the road. In other cars, the infotainment system automatically blocks any calls, text messages and emails to avoid any distractions.
A lot of effort is being put into enhancements in the safety of vehicles. Other technological advancements helping improve on the safety of cars include: lane departure warning, drowsiness detection software, smart airbags deployment, and blindspot warning. Technologies, however, continue to evolve as manufacturers strive to attain the highest car safety standards.