How Does Crash Prevention Technology Reduce Car Accident Injuries?

 Posted on July 15, 2020 in Car Accidents

Anytime someone hits the open road in a vehicle, he or she runs the risk of being involved in an automobile crash. According to the website driverknowledge.com, approximately 3 million people are injured every year in car accidents. Here in Illinois, vehicle fatalities have been on the rise despite fewer cars on the road due to stay-at-home orders issued in response to COVID-19. Advanced technology, sometimes referred to as “driver assistance,” is aimed to prevent the number of vehicle collisions as well as subsequent injuries and fatalities. 

Alerting Drivers of Potential Dangers

In an effort to make vehicles safer, many auto manufacturers are requiring crash prevention technology to be on all their newer models. The majority of accidents that occur are due to human error. New technology within the car industry has completely changed the way cars operate. Some of these features offer modern luxuries but many provide enhanced safety systems. 

A few of the safety options on today’s newer vehicles include the following:

• Backup Camera: Cameras on all sides of a vehicle can provide 360-degree views using sensors. With screens located on car dashboards, this technology allows drivers to see what is behind them when backing up without having to turn around. If the car gets too close to a person or an object, the system beeps to alert the driver, allowing enough time to hit the brakes before colliding.

• Blindspot Detection: A blind-spot warning (BSW) system uses radar to detect when another car is in your blind spot. BSW systems can give visual and/or audio alerts to let you know if it is unsafe to merge or change lanes. The visual alerts are typically displayed on the side mirrors.

• LED Lights: Enhanced, bright Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights offer greater visibility of the road ahead of you. LED headlights are much brighter than traditional halogen lamps, giving you a better view of your surroundings. In addition, oncoming traffic will be able to see your vehicle from a farther distance. 

• Hands-Free, Voice-Activated Controls: These days, smartphones can automatically connect in a vehicle with Bluetooth capability. This allows you to answer incoming calls without touching your phone. It can also be used to listen to navigational directions. Other voice control systems enable you to change the radio station, turn on the air conditioning or heat, and more, all by voicing your commands.

• Emergency Braking System: Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) uses the same radar system as cruise control to judge the distance between you and the car in front of you. Because it is computer controlled, the system can react faster than you as the driver and instantly put on the brakes before you have a chance to react to a situation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes that the safety benefits of these warning systems are directly related to the effectiveness of the system’s alerts to elicit the appropriate response and action by the driver. However, even with computer-aided assistance, there are other factors that can lead to the likelihood of an accident. For example, when other drivers are distracted or fatigued, they run the risk of causing an accident. Similarly, if a motorist is driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol or is speeding, his or her reaction time and overall ability to operate his or her vehicle safely is greatly jeopardized.  

Contact a Hyde Park Personal Injury Lawyer

Vehicle collisions can occur when you least expect them, even when proper safety measures are taken. In many cases, the reckless actions of another motorist cause a crash. Kadzai Law Group, LLC have more than 10 years of experience securing compensation for personal injury victims and their families. Our accomplished Chicago car accident attorneys will help you determine liability and hold those accountable for their negligent behavior. To learn more and to schedule your free consultation, call us today at 312-229-0050.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/crash-avoidance/advanced-technologies

https://www.driverknowledge.com/car-accident-statistics/