Advancements in automotive technology have led to newer cars coming equipped with innovative safety features aimed at preventing accidents.
While driver error is the leading cause of accidents, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stating that 94% of all accidents are caused by driver error, these features provide an extra layer of protection and crash avoidance when situations go awry on the roads.
Even with the best assistive technology available, car accidents can still happen. And while such technology might reduce the severity of collisions, it cannot completely prevent all damages and losses after a crash.
If you were in a car wreck, you may need to contact a car accident attorney for help understanding your legal options for recovering compensation.
To avoid future accidents and related financial and emotional losses, check out these 9 safety features that can prevent collisions.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) is one of the most important safety features in modern vehicles. Using sensors such as radar, lasers, and cameras, AEB can detect when a collision is imminent and apply the brakes automatically to avoid or mitigate an accident if the driver does not take action.
The system issues warnings when a vehicle, pedestrian, or other obstacle has been detected ahead. The good news is that 20 US automakers now equip all light vehicles with AEB, and five new auto manufacturers fitted AEB systems to 95% of vehicles produced between Sept 1, 2022 and Aug 31, 2023.
Lane Departure Warning Systems
When a vehicle begins to drift out of its lane on a highway, a lane departure warning system alerts the driver.
Working in conjunction with lane keep assist technology, which can automatically steer the car back into its lane, these systems prevent accidents due to distracted, drowsy or impaired drivers, with stats showing that lane departure warnings have reduced relevant crashes by 11% and injury crashes by 21%.
Rearview Cameras
Rearview cameras give drivers greater visibility behind the vehicle to spot objects or people that may not be visible through the rear windshield alone.
This prevents backover accidents in parking lots, driveways and other locations with limited rear visibility. The camera feeds appear on the vehicle’s infotainment screen when in reverse gear.
Blind Spot Monitoring
There are nearly 840k blind spot accidents each year, resulting in around 300 deaths. Blind spot monitoring uses sensors to identify any vehicles in hard-to-see areas on either side towards the rear of the car.
Warning lights illuminate on side mirrors or panels when another vehicle enters these blind spots. This helps prevent dangerous lane changes or merges resulting in sideswipe collisions.
Forward Collision Warning
As its name suggests, forward collision warning senses slowed or stopped traffic ahead to warn drivers about rear-end collision risks.
Visual, audible and haptic alerts prompt preventive action when closing speeds towards other vehicles are deemed unsafe by the system’s calculations.
Adaptive Headlights
Headlights that pivot according to steering input for better illumination in curves are called adaptive headlights.
By improving sight lines on winding roads or paths with reduced visibility, this feature allows drivers to spot hazards sooner and take preventive measures. It might help prevent some of the 37,700 crashes caused by fog.
Automatic High Beams
Automatic high beam systems switch between high and low beams by assessing the surrounding traffic.
Using an optical sensor, the system prevents bright high-beam glare from blinding oncoming drivers while allowing high beams whenever permissible for maximum road illumination.
Traction/Stability Control
Traction control applies brakes to spinning wheels and cuts engine power to maintain grip on slippery surfaces.
Stability control can intervene by applying brakes selectively to keep the vehicle stable and prevent rollovers or skids during evasive maneuvers. These integrated features greatly reduce single- and multi-vehicle accidents.
The advanced safety features emerging in newer vehicles provide technology assistance to prevent human errors from turning into tragic accidents.
While attentive driving is still indispensable, these systems offer a valuable safeguard when circumstances on the roadway warrant intervention in split seconds.