Car accidents are quite rampant in the States. From mechanic failures to unvigilant drivers, the loss of lives in road accidents is unfortunate. As per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, nearly 40% of fatalities occur every year in road accidents.
While the stats may be overwhelming, technological advancements could prevent such unfortunate incidents. Like every other industry, the automobile sector is witnessing a sharp rise in technology penetration.
To avoid mechanical and human errors, the manufacturers have brought in new features that are believed to reduce car accidents significantly. However, in case of an accident due to the driver’s deliberate carelessness, make sure you contact an Uber accident lawyer to assist you well with the damage recovery.
1. Automatic Emergency Braking Systems
Popularly known as AEB, this feature allows applying brakes urgently if the driver fails to respond quickly. AEB is designed to sense the stopped traffic to avoid imminent collision. With cutting-edge technology, AEB ultimately assists in the prevention of accidents due to rear-end of a vehicle.
The sensors are located in front of the car and typically are radar-based. It allows the car to react faster than a human brain, thereby giving the maximum stopping power instantly. In case you have a high-end car and cannot locate the sensor, you should read the owner’s manual in the first place. Also, regular maintenance is required for AEB as they are vulnerable to too much sunlight.
2. Blind Spot Detection
This feature is made to warn you if your car is near to the left or right of the blind spot. That is why it is commonly known as Blind Spot Warning or BSW. It quickly detects any other vehicle around yours that would create a hurdle or collision while changing lanes.
Although BSW is available in different versions, the most basic version warns you with a symbol, sound, or vibration. However, the signal is displayed in the side-view mirrors or the windshield frame in some advanced versions. But, to make the best use of this technology and avoid car accidents, it is important on a driver’s part to keep a check on a few things.
More often than not, sensors are blocked due to moisture or snow, so it is advisable to tilt an eye towards them. Furthermore, most sensors are designed to only detect high speeding vehicles, so it is crucial to look over your shoulders to check for blind spots before changing lanes.
3. Lane Departure Warnings
Often, a driver is distracted either by looking at the stereo or the passenger. Even if it’s for a second, it becomes hard to catch up with road reflexes when the car is drifting across a lane.
To prevent accidents from such errors, lane departure warnings are designed to help drivers get back to the center of the lane. This feature banks upon roadway markings to provide the best protection. The warnings are received on the car dashboard along with sound and vibration.
However, this technology is not suitable for unpaved roads or those without markings. So, we would always advise you to stay alert to prevent any road accidents.
4. Curve Speed Warning
Most car accidents take place on an approaching curve or exit. The unfamiliarity with the curves or low light could increase the chances of an accident. But, thanks to technology, it brought us yet another feature that would save our lives.
The Curve Speed Warning or CSW detects the car’s speed and location with the help of GPS and warns the driver about approaching curves. With different versions available, the CSW stores the database of high-risk curves to alert drivers beforehand.
5. Adaptive Headlights
We just mentioned how risky it is to drive at night. The risk of injury doubles when driving on an unpaved road, isn’t it? It’s time to ditch the traditional headlights and switch to the adaptive ones.
As the name suggests, Adaptive Headlights can adapt to different driving conditions. They illuminate the driving periphery allowing sending in more light during the nighttime. These headlights are not fixed at a position. Rather, they use sensors to swivel according to the environment that you are driving in. To put it, the headlights move as the steering wheel turns.
Having explained too much about technology, we don’t want to sign off without paying two cents. No matter how much technology advances, the human brain remains the most intelligent of all. These technologies can surely aid your life processes, but you need to stay vigilant all the time. Remember, life is precious!
