1.35 million people lose their lives each year due to car crashes. New safety technologies offer solutions that can enhance protections for drivers, passengers, and other travelers. Tech has played a major part in transforming vehicles to make them more safe and adaptable to the everyday hazards commuters face.
New technologies have evolved into advanced systems that increase your vehicle’s life-saving potential. If you’ve been in an accident, a Chicago car accident lawyer can support you while you seek financial compensation for your injuries.
The Evolution of Driving Technology
The evolution of driving safety features has improved road safety for all travelers. When the first seat belt patent was secured this ushered in a new era in vehicle safety. In the 1970s and 1980s Airbags were broadly adopted in passenger vehicles to provide sophisticated safety systems.
The 1970s also ushered in the use of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) which is now standard in most vehicles. ABS prevents wheel lock-up in emergency braking situations while maintaining vehicle control and keeps wheels from skidding. These safety passenger vehicle innovations set the foundation for today’s advanced safety technologies.
The Safe Driving Technologies of Today
The evolution of passenger vehicles and their safety mechanisms has notably reduced the amount of fatal crashes and severe injuries. Let’s explore some of today’s automobile technologies and their effectiveness.
Front Crash Prevention Systems
Front crash prevention systems prevent rear-end collisions by using sensors, cameras, radars, and lidars, to detect if a vehicle is too close. Crash prevention systems typically issue audio warnings and precharge brakes. Crash prevention systems can automatically apply the brakes when necessary and many pedestrians, cyclists, and animals. Automatic braking helps reduce rear-end crashes, and their severity, and is becoming standardized in most vehicles.
Lane Departure Warnings
Lane departure warning systems use radar cameras to track the vehicle’s position within the lane. This feature alerts drivers when their vehicle is in danger of meandering across lane markings without proper signaling. Some systems assist the vehicle in remaining within the lane and others make auditory or vibrational alerts.
Autonomous Driving Vehicles
Autonomous and self-driving features are becoming a reality. Autonomous cars use a combination of sensors, radar, lidar, and AI algorithms to monitor, navigate, and make decisions while on the road. Although fully autonomous vehicles need a bit more fine-tuning, autonomous co-piloting systems are already changing the way we conduct our vehicles.
Improved and Evolved Driver Education
Driving theory and e-learning platforms are helping new and old drivers to better understand the roads and how to adapt to new vehicle safety advancements. Advanced vehicle safety features that come with rich educational materials help drivers be better equipped to navigate and drive safely and responsibly.
Tech’s Real-World Impact on Safer Roads
New safety features have real-world applications and help to save lives. Many motor vehicle collisions can be prevented with lane departure warning systems and front crash prevention technologies. These technologies have helped to reduce many accidents and lower accident injuries like the car technological innovations of the past. rates of claims for damages and injuries in vehicles equipped with these systems.
As AI technologies grow and their universal use cases become more widespread, many personal injury law professionals foresee autonomous driving technologies continuing to improve also. When automakers use accident data to refine their technologies, improve their systems, and standardize their features, this helps motor vehicle commuters to understand and embrace new safety features as well.
It’s very possible that within our lifetime, we could see the rate of car accidents reduced to zero thanks to safety technology. Until then, if you’ve been harmed in a car accident, at no fault of your own, consider speaking with a car accident attorney in your area.