New Vehicle Technologies Increase Safety On the Road

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Driving is an inherently dangerous activity, and everyone who uses the road is at risk of injury in a car accident. However, many of these accidents are avoidable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94 percent of serious accidents are caused by human error.

While self-driving cars may eventually eliminate human error from the road, their widespread adoption is still several years away. But in the meantime, more and more vehicles are being equipped with automated safety technologies that can address these errors and improve safety for everyone on the road. These technologies include:

• Forward collision protection - Cars equipped with forward collision warning (FCW) systems detect when a vehicle is approaching a slow-moving or stopped car and provide a warning to the driver. In some cases, cars can automatically apply emergency brakes to avoid a crash. Some cars can also detect when pedestrians are crossing in front of the car and provide warnings or stop automatically. A study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) found that these systems reduce the number of rear-end collisions by 50 percent.
• Parking and backup assistance - Backup cameras which provide drivers with a complete view of the rear of their vehicle can help avoid hitting pedestrians or other cars while backing out of a driveway or parking space. Some cars can also help avoid accidents by automatically applying the brakes when a person or vehicle is detected behind the car.
• Lane navigation assistance - Lane departure warning (LDW) systems detect roadway markings and provide warnings to drivers if they begin to drift out of their lane. Other helpful lane navigation technologies include warnings if a car is detected in a vehicle’s blind spot and automatic steering assistance that helps drivers stay centered in a lane. An IIHS study found that these technologies reduce the rate of fatal single-vehicle, sideswipe, and head-on crashes by 86 percent.
• Maintaining a safe distance - Cars with traffic jam assistance and adaptive cruise control technologies can automatically speed up and slow down to stay within a safe distance from other cars at all times while remaining safely within their lane.

Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Attorney

Even with the latest and greatest safety technologies, accidents can still occur. If you have been injured in car accident, the attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP can help you receive compensation for your damages. Contact a Lake County car crash lawyer today at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles

https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/safety-technologies

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/stay-within-the-lines-lane-departure-warning-blind-spot-detection-help-drivers-avoid-trouble