Technological advancements in the field of automobiles is continuing at a rapid pace from the last decade or so. In addition to making vehicles more comfortable, faster, and efficient, technology is also playing a key role in improving vehicular safety.
According to the World Health Organization, 1.35 million people lose their lives in road accidents every year. The Centre for Disease Control points out that road accidents is the third biggest cause of non-natural death in the United States.
This means that car manufacturers and consumers should start looking at safety in the same way that looks at luxury, or comfort, or horsepower figures.
In this article, we are going to look at five important vehicle safety technologies that your vehicle must-have. However, before we begin, let us first look at the growth of safety technologies in the industry.
Why Safety should be a top purchase consideration for your New Car
In the past few years, car manufacturers have come under increasing regulations and scrutiny from different national governments. This is because safety was one of the last priorities car companies were addressing in their products.
Cheaper and less sturdy steel, would cut down costs and ensure that the prices would be attractive to the consumer. Basic safety technologies like Airbags and Seatbelts were also given a miss, especially in developing countries like India, which emerged as a major vehicle industry.
However, of late, awareness, information, education, and governmental pressure has forced many car companies to take up safety issues. You might have heard about the EURO NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) Crash Tests to judge vehicular safety.
For the past few years, brands who were giving these tests a miss are seriously considering them and taking in the pride of their performances. The NCAP rating stretches between one star and five stars; with five being the gold standard.
Many car companies are now publicizing their five stars in marketing and advertising. This is helping them win the trust, confidence, and sales of consumers who have started prioritizing safety in their vehicles.
List of 5 Safety Technologies that can help you avoid a Crash
1. Electronic Stability Control-
Even though the technology behind ESC has been around for a long time, it is only very recently that it has been mandated by different countries all over the world. Electronic Stability Control or ESC is often considered one of the most vital car safety technologies.
In very simple words, ESC helps in preventing the car from spinning out of control in wet conditions like snow, ice sheets, oil spills, and so on. It also helps in the rear end of the car moving away in situations where the driver has lost control of the vehicle. According to experts, ESC was responsible for preventing more than 50% of all accidents in Canada.
2. Automatic Emergency Braking-
Many health experts, especially in countries like the USA and Canada think that the Automatic Emergency Braking or AEB is one of the most important safety features ever in a car. Most cars nowadays come with alerts. AEB functions in the absence of these alerts.
For example, even if the driver fails to take note of all the alerts and the vehicle dangerously reaches close to another vehicle, the AEB will be automatically activated. The car will brake on its own, without any driver assistance, and change lanes to avoid the crash. AEB is now becoming standard in many of the developed countries.
3. Lane Assist And Blind Spot Warning-
Most car manufacturers are loading their vehicles with cameras from all angles. We have rearview cameras, front road scanning cameras and radars, and even cameras on our ORVMs. The purpose is to show the driver what is happening around the car at all times.
For example, lane assists and blind-spot monitoring ensure that the vehicle is safe from all sides. Lane assists allow the car to move in a single lane and alerts the driver if there is too much movement. Blind Spot assist alerts through radars if another car is overtaking from the wrong direction. IN all, both these technologies are very helpful.
4. Radar Sensing Technologies upfront-
Some of the premium vehicles in the luxury segment are coming with a rather sophisticated form of technology. Brands like Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, and Audi cars now have front sensing radars attached to the front grill or bumper areas of the car.
This radar scans the road and checks for any obstruction in the road ahead. If it sees and senses an obstruction, it shows the same to the driver with the help of alerts. It also raises the suspension, supports with the braking, and makes the car safer for the occupants. Radars are great when it comes to protecting your cars from front collisions.
5. Adaptive HD LED Headlights-
Headlight technologies have also kept pace with other aspects of car development. Headlights are a crucial safety feature in any car. The better the headlights, the better will be your visibility. This is very important for people who travel mostly at night and in streets with poor lighting.
LED lights have replaced Halogen ones in cars over the last five years. Further improvements like High Definition LEDs, Day Time Running Lights (DRLs) and Adaptive Headlights (which turn on when they sense daylight is less) are helping improve safety in cars. They are also very aesthetically pleasing to look at and contribute to the design in a major way.
The Final Word
We need to understand that the above-mentioned technologies can go a long way in preventing serious accidents. However, there might be times when you or someone you know might be at the receiving end of someone else’s fault and irresponsible behavior. This is why a good personal injury attorney practice areas in car accidents can help you in a major way.
The personal injury attorney can help you claim compensation, coordinate with the police force and the insurance companies. They can also gather evidence and fight your case for justice and fair compensation in a court of law.
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