We literally see at least one sort of automobile accident every day, especially during harsh weather, so it’s no surprise that safety is a concern for all automobile manufacturers.
The mainstream standard of safety protocols do enough for one certain aspect of safety – minimizing casualties, damages, and a better chance of averting disaster.
There is, however, one part of safety that is only beginning to be discovered technology-wise- and trust me, there’s a lot of new car technologies out there.
These are five technologies contributing to that one part that can be considered the complete prevention of accidents:
- Key2SafeDriving
With today’s news about cell phones, a parent can only fear the worst regarding their teens behind the wheel. Bring in the revolutionary electronic device, the “Key2SafeDriving” System, which acts as a type of jammer or blocker. What it does is completely deactivate all cell phones inside the car, preventing anyone from using them either while driving or acting as a passenger.
- Adaptive Cruise Control/Collision Mitigation
Never before has any safety system utilized a luxury such as a defensive driving measure, but that’s exactly what Adaptive Cruise Control is.
Because of sensors and radar technology in automobiles, this type of cruise control not only sets a constant speed in your vehicle but also automatically adjusts the throttle and brakes for you whenever traffic speed changes or another vehicle cuts you off.
The system even brakes hard and tightens the seat belts when sensing a potential collision.
- Blind-Spot Detection/Side Assist/Collision Warning
You remember all the necessary Driver’s Ed tips about always checking your blind spot? There’s now a technological system that does it for you.
Sensors indicate with a specified distance the possibility of a collision, usually signaled by you when you use the turn signal. Typically, the “alarm” can be a flashing light in the mirror, vibrating steering wheel or seat, or just a beeping sound.
- Lane-Departure Warning/Wake-You-Up Safety
Speaking of Driver’s Ed, you probably have it crystal clear in your mind the crash video you had to watch about a driver suffering from highway hypnosis or drowsiness. What this technology does is monitor your posture, i.e., the way the vehicle is moving or veering. Alarms can “wake you up” whenever it senses those particulars.
Even better, some systems can actually take control of the vehicle, slowing it down and engaging stability for you while you doze at the wheel.
- Rollover Prevention/Mitigation
It would be pretty sad for many action flicks if the vehicles of heroes and villains had this technology. It prevents your car from rolling whenever taking a curve too hard or even approaching a serious accident from which you can’t dodge. The system automatically applies the brakes and regulates the throttle upon the onset of a possible rollover.
At the most, for a few seconds your vehicle might ride with two wheels on one side, but that’s it – you’ll never roll over.
Constant evolution: that’s the name of the game with automotive technology these days. These technology are taking the guesswork out of our jobs as drivers keeps us safe and secure- and also lowering our car insurance rates.
Who knows? Maybe there will be a technology that’ll drive our vehicles for us while we sit and relax! (note: while writing this article, I realized that they’re testing a car that can drive itself. Creepy.)