Car Safety Bolstered By These Latest Tech Innovations
Safety features are the most important factor for consumers when choosing a new vehicle, according to research. Thankfully, innovative technology is being put to good use in the automotive industry, and systems including automatic braking and adaptive cruise control helped to cut road deaths by 1% between 2017 and 2018. But with the Vision Zero project aiming to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2050, car manufacturers have started incorporating bigger and better safety technology in their vehicles.
Virtual door mirrors
Most vehicles adopted wing mirrors in the 1960s and they’ve done a sufficient job since then of giving drivers a good view of the road on both sides of their cars. However, multiple manufacturers have decided to ditch and replace traditional wing mirrors with state-of-the-art cameras that present a live feed of the outside of the car onto an interior screen.
The technology within the cameras adapts to the road type, meaning motorway driving is safer than ever before. Drivers can also use touch screen technology to zoom in to certain spots on the road to enhance their view before making their manoeuvres.
At present, there are several vehicles on the market that are using this technology. Lexus, Audi, and, most recently, Honda have used cameras in place of wing mirrors. So, if you’re looking to purchase a new vehicle with this latest safety technology installed, compare the models, including the electric ones, from these brands that have already opted for this technology.
Driver Control Monitoring
94% of road collisions are caused by driver error, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But Volvo’s new technology aims to combat this once and for all. From 2020, Volvo plans to use camera technology in their models to monitor the attention span of drivers by assessing their eye movements. If the driver appears distracted, the driver will be warned by Volvo’s assistance center. The in-car technology will then make the decision whether to allow the driver to proceed or to slow or halt the vehicle altogether in order to keep both the driver and other road users safe from harm.
Intelligent headlights
Intelligent headlights have been around since 2013 when Audi introduced them in the A3. However, it’s only now that this technology is really taking off and is being installed in a number of new models. Intelligent headlights use technology that assesses road conditions. This allows the car’s lights to automatically turn on and off when necessary. The brightness and length of the beams also automatically adjust so as not to dazzle other road users and to increase safety on the road. This is particularly crucial for nighttime driving which is when 40% of all fatal accidents occur.
Technology has significantly improved the safety of vehicles on the road over the past decade. However, car manufacturers know that there is still more that can be done to keep the nation’s roads safe. As such, they are utilizing some of the newest and best technology in their new and upcoming cars in order to work towards Vision Zero’s objectives.
