It’s no secret that cars are becoming increasingly high-tech, and with that comes more safety features. From lane-change warning systems to blind spot detection, car safety has come a long way from the days of seat belts and airbags. This article will discuss some of the new and upcoming car safety features you need to know about.
Innovations in Safety
When looking at new cars, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the list of developments, but in recent years technology has advanced significantly to protect us in our vehicles. Some of the best features are updated and innovative versions of the old tech.
Protect My Car Reviews lists some of the most popular features, including adaptive headlights that detect curves in the road and automatically adjust their beam when driving at night. Additionally, lane-change warning systems alert drivers when another vehicle is in a neighboring lane, while automatic emergency braking applies the brakes to avoid an impending collision.
Adaptive Cruise Control
This feature uses sensors to monitor the vehicle’s speed in front of your car, automatically adjusting your speed accordingly. This helps drivers avoid rear-end collisions when traveling on highways or other roads with fast traffic.
Adaptive cruise control also allows drivers to maintain their desired speed while avoiding any sudden speed changes. In combination with other features, adaptive cruise control can prevent wrecks and give a warning of dangerous road conditions.
Lane Change Warning System
This system monitors a driver’s blind spots and alerts them if there is another vehicle in their lane that they may not be aware of. The system will provide an audible warning if it senses a potential collision, allowing drivers to correct it before any accidents occur.
Some systems even provide visual warnings, such as flashing lights or arrows pointing out potential hazards. The same approach can also help prevent you from driving over someone or something in one of your blind spots. This system is often integrated with the standard backup cams on most new cars.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
This system automatically applies brakes when it detects an impending collision with an object or person ahead of the vehicle. AEB uses cameras and sensors to detect objects on the road, then applies brakes if it senses an imminent collision. This can help prevent rear-end collisions and reduce damage caused by minor fender benders and significant accidents.
This system is an innovation and upgrade of traditional Antilock Braking Systems. ABS is a preventative system, whereas AEB is a responsive system. Even the best driver in the world can still benefit from additional protections, as they can’t predict the behaviors of other drivers on the road.
Telematics and On Board GPS Navigation
GPS navigation helps us prepare for our trip and avoid getting lost. Still, more than that, when you’re in a wreck, your onboard GPS in newer cars can use a telematics system to contact emergency services and dispatch first responders to your location if needed, even if you can’t tell them exactly where you are. This is another of the responsive features, rather than preventative.
Telematic technology is also the same that insurance agencies use to track your driving habits and your car’s safety features. If these features are on your vehicle and active, you’ll likely see better insurance prices and a better rate on your extended warranty policy.
Hands-free Systems – Bluetooth
Between voice activation and voice commands programmed into most phones, the hands-free systems of modern cars allow drivers to do much of their tasks without their hands leaving the wheel or their eyes wandering from the road.
It’s still not advisable to talk while you drive, as conversations can create distractions that can cause collisions; hands-free calling systems have been proven to save lives. Additionally, hands-free systems allow you to listen to the music you want without the distraction caused by annoying commercials and obnoxiously repetitive playlists.
Fatigue Monitoring
Even the most attentive drivers can succumb to fatigue and exhaustion. Unfortunately, many highway collisions and even fatalities come down to drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Modern cars are equipped with tools that help prevent dangerous driving when the driver is tired. We, humans, are stubborn and tend to try and push through our exhaustion to finish the trip in one driving session. However, it’s not the safest option.
Fatigue monitoring considers how long you’ve been driving since your last break, the time of the day compared to your regular driving time, and your steering and handling. When you fail to maintain your lane reliably or your speed varies greatly, the fatigue monitoring system can coordinate with the onboard navigation system to suggest safe places to rest.
Safety Features Don’t Allow for Complacency
While these new safety features are certainly helpful, they don’t replace good driving habits like following the rules of the road and paying attention while driving. However, they serve as an extra layer of protection for when we make mistakes or our attention slips for just a moment behind the wheel.
So keep up with news seekers who want to know about new car safety features so you can stay safe on the roads! Protect My Car Reviews can also help you shop for better auto insurance rates based on your car’s safety features!
With these two resources combined, you’ll be able to find excellent auto insurance deals while staying informed about all the latest advances in car safety technology. Take advantage of both when looking for your following auto insurance policy!