Can These Safety Technologies On New Vehicles Save Your Life?

In the past, vehicles were designed to provide safety to passengers in a collision. Airbags and seat belts are examples of safety features car designers added to vehicles to help reduce the risk of serious injury and death. Today’s manufacturers and engineers are focused on preventing accidents in addition to reducing the risk of injury in an accident. Some of the latest advances in the automotive manufacturing field help save lives by providing alerts to the driver before an accident occurs. Below are four of the latest technologies you can find on new vehicle models that are focused on preventing collisions.

1. Adaptive Headlights

Headlights have changed over the years to improve visibility. The latest trend is a design that changes directions to increase lighting around hills and curves. Adaptive headlights also adjust the intensity of light when the vehicle is in traffic to reduce glare for the driver. The benefit for drivers is that they can see road hazards sooner and be alerted to pedestrians after night.

2. Lane Departure Warning Systems

When drivers are distracted, drowsy, or fatigued, they tend to allow the vehicle to drift into another lane. Lane departure warning systems alert the driver by sounding an alarm or causing a vibration in the seat when the car approaches another lane. This system can help prevent head-on collisions with oncoming traffic or collisions with vehicles approaching from the rear.

3. Lane Departure Prevention Systems

Going beyond sounding an alert when a driver drifts into another lane, a lane departure prevention system actually takes over the direction of the car to center the vehicle back into its own lane. This prevents the car from side-swiping another vehicle or being involved in a head-on collision. An advanced camera locates the lane markings and activates the brakes on the vehicle as it steers the vehicle back where it needs to be.

4. Forward Collision Systems

The focus of this system is to prevent collisions with a vehicle in front of it. Sensors detect another vehicle or another obstacle and send a visual and/or audible alert to the driver. The newest systems can take control the vehicle to engage the brakes and slow the vehicle down to prevent a rear-end collision. More vehicle manufacturers are making this system standard in new vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it is expected that this technology reduces claims up to 35 percent.

While advanced technology cannot completely make up for driver error or negligence, the new systems can help reduce the risk of a collision. Manufacturers continue to develop these and other systems to eliminate common causes of accidents.

Call Our Massachusetts Car Accident Attorneys for More Information

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, your first priority is your health. After you have received medical attention, you need to take steps to protect your legal right to receive compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages. Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys guide you through the process of filing an accident claim while working to protect your right to receive full compensation from the responsible party.

Contact Tapalian Law by telephone at 401-552-5000 or by using our contact form on our website. Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys represent clients throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It is our desire to make the process as easy and convenient for you as possible. Call our office to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. If you cannot come to our office, we will make other arrangements to provide you with advice regarding your legal options.