Latest Advancements In Car Safety

From Blind Spot Detection to Forward Collision Warning, advanced safety features abound in today's vehicles. Many alert drivers to potential dangers, thereby reducing the risk of collision. Others minimize injury in the event of an accident, lessening the impact and even saving drivers' or passengers' lives. While these new features are meant to save lives, they can often be source of additional mechanical failures and lemon cars. Still the advances of the last few years have been remarkable; the following are among the most impressive safety features available in modern vehicles:

Automatic Emergency Braking

Automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems prevent rear-end collisions. which, according to the Chicago Tribune, account for over 40 percent of road-based incidents in the United States. Currently, top AEB systems include dynamic brake support (in which the vehicle supplements the driver's braking to avoid collision) and crash imminent braking (in which the vehicle automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to take action to bring it to a stop). 

Although AEB systems first appeared in vehicles in 2006, the technology continues to grow more accurate, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration referring to it as the "next wave of potential significant advances in vehicle safety." Nearly two dozen car manufacturers have committed to standardizing automatic emergency braking by September, 2022. 

Backup Cameras

Low-speed collisions in parking ramps or lots can be surprisingly traumatic. Backing out of driveways or parallel parking spots can be even more dangerous, often leading to collisions with vehicles traveling at 30 miles per hour or faster. Backup cameras prevent these injuries by alerting drivers to objects behind the vehicle, often out of the driver's sight line. Many backup cameras even provide grid lines, which allow for more accurate maneuvering in tight spaces. By 2018, federal law will require all new vehicles to include backup cameras. 

Inflatable Safety Belt

Recently introduced by Ford, inflatable safety belts may increasingly be incorporated in other vehicles in coming years, particularly now that Ford has licensed the technology to other companies and industries. These ingenious devices combine the concept of airbag and seat belt, providing greater protection for vulnerable rear passengers — especially children and seniors.

Drowsiness Alert

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that 21 percent of fatal auto accidents involve driver fatigue. Additionally, drowsiness plays a role in 13 percent of crashes in which a victim is hospitalized. There is no breathalyzer just yet to hold drowsy drivers accountable as we do for drunk drivers, but new technology keeps tabs on behind-the-wheel behavior that matches that typical of drowsy drivers.

According to a recent report from the New York Times, numerous vehicle manufacturers already offer technology that detects steering wheel angle, lane deviations, and drive time — all factors that indicate a driver's possible sleepiness. If the system determines that the driver may be too drowsy to safely operate the vehicle, it alerts him or her via a coffee cup icon. 

Promising new technology may take this concept to the next level, tracking not only lane drift and steering wheel angle, but also changes in breathing, heart rate, posture, and eye movements. These metrics can more accurately pinpoint a driver's alertness. Future models may even take over if the driver is deemed to be too sleepy, either bringing the vehicle to a full stop or directing it to pull off on the side of the road.

Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers in Southern California

Has behind-the-wheel negligence caused suffering for you or a loved one? You deserve justice. Contact Neale & Fhima at (888) 995-0283 to learn more about your options for remuneration.