Being involved in a car accident often brings injury and property damage. Sorting out who is to blame often requires the help of a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer to ensure you receive justice. However, modern carmakers are taking impressive steps to provide new car technology to help prevent accidents and injuries from automotive crashes.
Computer and camera use has been increased to provide 360-degree safety and avoid sideswipe, head-on, and backup crashes. Let’s examine some more innovative new safety technology in cars that can protect you and your passengers from harm.
Cameras are critical
One way that many new systems have been improved is the use of better-quality cameras in a variety of locations on the vehicle. Many forward-facing cameras allow cars to identify situations that could lead to a crash while driving.
For example, Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is used to verify the distance from the car in front of you, as well as maintain consistent spacing while using cruise control.
Cameras and other sensors are also used to determine when a car is crossing into another lane or traveling too closely to another vehicle. Sideview cameras also allow the driver to manually verify if another vehicle is in their blind spot before changing lanes.
Cameras can also be used to assist in securing a locked vehicle left unattended. Many manufacturers are connecting the onboard camera system to their proprietary vehicle monitoring devices to determine when another vehicle hits the car in a parking lot or when thieves attempt to steal it.
Front-end collision prevention systems
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that front collision warning systems can reduce the occurrence of crashing into vehicles in front of you by 27%. Systems that also include automatic emergency braking (AEB) can further prevent up to 50% of accidents.
The increase can be attributed to the ability of the car to respond to a risk of collision faster than relying on the human driver to recognize the danger and react. Not only will the driver take longer to brake, but the sound of a collision warning could distract them momentarily and further increase the time it takes to slow or stop the vehicle.
Blind spot warning systems
Recent trends are towards larger trucks and passenger vehicles, leading to greater difficulty seeing other cars traveling nearby. When a much smaller car rides in the blind spot of a substantially larger pickup truck, the risk of a sideswipe crash is significant. Innovative new warning systems can help prevent injuries from these accidents by up to 23%.
Cameras are an integral part of this new safety technology in cars, but they also employ other tools to manage control of the vehicle to avoid a crash. For example, warning features will notify the driver when a vehicle is in the blind spot on either side of the car when the driver activates the turn signal. Many new cars also have assistive technology to steer and brake the vehicle once the turn signal is on to avoid other vehicles in the blind spot.
Backup camera systems
While backup cameras have been around for a while, there are recent improvements to avoid backing into objects or people. Audible and visual alarms have been included, as well as guidelines on the camera screen to show when you are getting too close to another vehicle.
Some cameras have the ability to recognize a human figure, reducing the risk of causing injury to someone standing behind the vehicle. Using rear cross-traffic alerts (RCTA) also lowers the risk of backing into oncoming vehicles in parking lots or when backing into streets from a driveway. Some even include automatic emergency braking to react before you do, lowering the occurrence of crashes by as much as 78%.
Safer electric car batteries
American automakers are investing huge sums in developing and expanding their commitment to electric vehicles. Two major drawbacks for electric car batteries have been less-than-ideal range and the risk of fire from current designs. However, recent innovations in new car battery technology appear to address both these worries.
Energy Monitor reports that a solid electrolyte version of the current lithium-ion battery in wide use will allow these new lithium-air batteries to be as much as four times more efficient. They will also reduce the risk of overheating and fire caused by the liquid-based batties now in use.
Many auto fires and house fires have been caused by electric batteries that overheat after use or while charging, resulting in injuries and deaths. This new technology aims to reduce those incidences and make electric cars safer to operate.
Speak with an attorney at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath today to learn more
While many improvements are being made to decrease risk, the truth is that accidents still happen every day. Despite new technology in cars, human error and negligence is the most common cause of car crashes. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a wreck, schedule a free consultation with a Florida car accident lawyer at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath.
Call us at (561) 655-1990 or use our online form today.
