More times, we have covered startups which leverage advanced technology to improve safety in vehicles.
Every year, about 6 million car crashes occur in the US. Of this number, 90 people die, and 3 million suffer from injuries. The growing concern is technology such as autopilot causing accidents, and a need for stricter safety regulations. If the use of seatbelts alone can significantly lower these numbers by 50%, imagine what new tech can do! Here are some of the new vehicle tech that can help increase driver safety:
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control is a safety feature that allows the vehicle to automatically reduce speed if the sensors detect a slowdown in the movement of other vehicles in front. The vehicle can automatically adjust its pre-set speed once the road is deemed clear.
Adaptive Headlights
Aside from cruise control, headlights can now adapt depending on the road conditions the vehicle is driving on. These innovative headlights can light up the road in front and literally move along with the movement of the steering wheel. Adaptive headlights are useful to use in rural areas where roads are often winding and are usually dark.
Back-Up Cameras
One of the most common minor car accidents that can happen is when vehicles backing up hit another vehicle. This accident often occurs because there are more blind spots, and the position of the driver somehow disorients them when they only rear view and side mirrors. If drivers look back as they reverse their car, their motor coordination is compromised. With this, back-up cameras can provide a 360-degree live view of the rear. Some cameras even come with distance reading and trajectory lines, allowing drivers to back up their cars safely.
Drowsiness Detector
One of the major highway problems in the US is drowsy driving. It is, in fact, one of the main reasons why there is an increased need for a pedestrian accident lawyer to cater to injuries caused by a drowsy driver. To combat this, the drowsiness detector is a welcome addition to vehicle tech. This rapidly evolving tech monitors vehicle behavior to alert the driver if they need to take a break. The monitoring process involves the use of vehicle lane position, steering patterns, facial and eye movements of the driver, heart rate, and even brain and muscle activity.
Forward-Collision Warning
The forward-collision warning system involves the use of cameras, radars, and lasers to alert drivers if they are moving too fast and are in danger of colliding with a vehicle in front of them. Most car safety experts believe that this safety feature is one of the most important of all because it comes with an auto-brake feature should the driver fail to respond to the alerts.
Lane Departure Warning
This new vehicle tech uses cameras and lasers to track lane markings. The safety feature will sound an alert when the vehicle departs from its lane without using a turn signal. Some of the premium versions of this tech can cause the driver’s seat or the steering wheel to vibrate in order to get the driver’s attention.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
This new vehicle tech is still in the pipeline, but it already looks promising. By the looks of it, this communication technology can change the way people use wireless technology to make different types of vehicles communicate with one another to share safety and mobility data.
Final Thoughts
As more vehicle tech reaches greater heights, so does the hope for improving road safety. Using the latest technology to make the roads safer for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians is a dream that most people hope to realize in the soonest time possible. Governments and investors should look carefully at investing in vehicle tech as it can not only save millions of dollars but millions of lives as well.