February 23, 2019 By Administrator No comments yet

Latest in Safety Features

As technology advances, there are many innovations that go into vehicle safety. But do they actually reduce the number of vehicle collisions? There are many stunning innovations that have changed the way we drive. And with human error being at least partially attributable to 94 percent of vehicle collisions in 2016, the latest safety features in 2019 may have a huge impact on how safe we are on the roads. Above all, innovations in the automobile industry have led to the development of more driver assistance technology, which have been incorporated into many newer models of automobiles, from compact economy cars to the higher end vehicles.

Brakes

One of the many areas of an automobile that has been enhanced by modern technology is the braking system. One thing that cuts down the potential for collision is the Automatic Emergency Braking System, which detects an impending forward crash and alerts the driver so they can act. If no action is taken by the driver, the AEBS will automatically apply the brakes to help prevent any collision. With this type of braking especially, it can cut down on forward collisions caused by distracted drivers who take their attention off the road.

DBS and CIB

The AEBS has two functions, Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) and Crash Imminent Braking (CIB). The difference between the two of them is that DBS will attempt to assist the driver in braking whereas the CIB will automatically attempt to avoid or reduce the severity of a collision if no action by the driver is taken. According to the NHTSA, in 2015, 33.4 percent of all police-reported crashes involved a rear-end collision with another vehicle. With more advancements made to the AEBS, and the incorporation of AEBS into more cars, the NHTSA acknowledges and recommends the incorporation of AEBS as safety technologies.

Cameras

The incorporation of cameras on newer vehicles is a relatively new innovation. Under Federal Regulation, it actually became required for new cars to incorporate back up camera technology. According to NHTSA this regulation cut down on the 18,000 injuries related to back-up accidents. The backup camera can be very helpful for detecting any potential hazards while your car is in reverse.

Blind Spot Camera

Another incorporation of the camera in an automobile is the Blind Spot Detection (BSD) camera. This technology uses digital camera imaging to alert the driver of any other cars in their blind spots. Especially when changing lanes, blind spot detection can really decrease the risk of blind spot collisions. The NHTSA report nearly 840,000 collisions every year related to blind spot awareness. The incorporation of cameras in vehicles were included to give the driver more visual awareness of their surroundings, and thus, making it safer to drive. BSD systems are an option in many more vehicles today, including in SUVs and trucks, and larger vehicles with larger blind spots.

Lane Assistance

One of the many forms of safety technology in automobiles come in the form of lane keeping and departure assistance. Furthermore, this technology uses cameras or sensors to keep track of the lane markings on the road and will alert the driver if they begin drifting out of their lane.

LKS and LDW

If no action is taken by the driver, the lane keeping support (LKS), will automatically activate and either correct steering, brake or accelerate one or more wheels, or a combination of both. Similarly, when it comes to lane departure, lane departure warning (LDW) is a more advanced safety technology that warns the driver when they drift out of their own lane without their turn signals. This technology encourages the driver to use turn signals as they should when making any lateral movements on the road. Altogether, lane assistance technologies help prevent collisions in cars in adjacent lanes.

As automobile safety technologies advance, driving is only getting safer. The incorporation of emergency safety equipment in our vehicles have the potential to save lives and prevent collisions and accidents. In addition, all of this technology is recommended safety technology by the NHTSA. Driver error is the reason for a large amount of collisions. Therefore, drivers assistance technology are taking a step in the right direction for safer roads.

SIKALI VIDAL

Blogger/Social Media Specialist
1500 Benson Road South, Suite 201
Renton, WA 98055
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sikali@dokagency.com

Sources:
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812528
https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/driver-assistance-technologies
https://www.greenspans-law.com/Articles/Federal-Rule-to-Require-Back-Up-Cameras-in-All-Vehicles-Expected-Soon.shtml