Will Better Vehicle Design Reduce the Number of Rear-End Collisions?

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

According to a recent report in The Chicago Tribune, rear-end collisions continue to be one of the most common types of car accidents, responsible for over 40 percent of all crash incidents on roadways in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that distracted driving and drug-impaired related crashes have increased since 2009, both factors undoubtedly contributing to rear-end incidents, though other behaviors such as speeding also continue to play a role in these types of collisions.

Regardless of the cause for these sad statistics, rear-end collisions have been and will continue to be an issue on our roadways, although efforts are being made through enhanced vehicle manufacturer design and other technology advancements to combat the problem. New, innovative efforts are continually being introduced with hopes that these advancements will prevent needless injury and even save some lives.

Addressing the Problem

The need for vehicle safety improvements is nothing new; automakers have been trying to address growing concerns over roadway safety as the method and volume of our highway travel continues to evolve. For example, car manufacturers have been required for years now to install vehicles with high-mounted brake lamps, also called third brake lights, which have significantly helped increase a driver’s visibility on the roadway.

This requirement was originally rolled out as a mandate to prevent a large number of rear-end crashes. It has been widely considered an effective effort when it comes to vehicle occupant safety, but other pre-existing vehicle design components, such as air bag technology, have also helped reduce the number of rear-end collisions over the years.

New Vehicle Designs, New Hopes

So, what’s next? What crash-preventing designs are popping up among the auto manufacturing industry, and what results can we hope to see in the years to come?

Different forms of self-driving technology have emerged that present great potential for keeping drivers safer today, more than ever before. Some of these technologies are still in the debugging phase as they undergo the process of being tested, but many are already in use in newer vehicle models.

Crash-avoidance systems, such as electronic stability control systems, aim to help avoid sliding or skidding in slippery conditions. These design enhancements sense an imminent accident and immediately give the driver warning, with the power to automatically apply a brake stop and prevent your car from passing into another lane and hitting another vehicle.

Automatic braking technology will be standard in over a dozen automakers’ vehicles by the year 2022, and is particularly helpful in preventing rear-end accidents. At the very least, it will affect the impact of rear-end accidents on the injury scale.

If you have had the unfortunate experience of being a victim of a rear-end accident, you need to consult with a qualified Lake County car accident attorney who can help protect your rights in a court of law. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 for a personal consultation.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/sc-rear-end-safety-autocover-0901-20160831-story.html