Auto collisions remain a serious issue across the globe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 3,700 people are killed in collisions involving trucks, cars, and motorcycles. Moreover, injuries from car crashes have become the eighth leading cause of death in the world.
It’s for this reason that car manufacturers are investing more time and resources in developing safer vehicles. Each year, the automotive industry is introducing more sophisticated features that can help keep motorists and pedestrians and ultimately reduce the number of fatalities.
Let’s take a look at a few of the latest automotive safety features that are available on the market this year:
Adaptive Headlights
Although nothing could keep people from driving at night, the risk of getting involved in a collision increases at night time. According to InjuryFacts.com, fatal car crashes are at their peak around 8 pm to 12 midnight. With this in mind, car manufacturers are looking into developing cars that can adapt to low-visibility environments and help drivers navigate turns in the dark.
For this, an effective solution is the use of cornering headlights that illuminate the direction where the driver is steering. Automatic high beams are another innovation that can help prevent night-time collisions. Using sensors to detect nearby obstacles and analyze the amount of light that surrounds the vehicle, these headlights automatically adjust their brightness or activate the high beams, allowing the driver enough time to steer clear of a potential accident.
Anti-Drunk Driving Technology
Drunk driving remains a critical concern for both motorists and law enforcers due to the injuries and damages it brings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that at least 28 people die from drunk driving incidents every day. More would suffer a lifetime of suffering, so victims would lean on law experts like Pittsburgh car accident law firm Chaffin Luhana LLP. Although the fatalities are lower than they were decades ago, car companies are still looking for ways to decrease DUI accidents even further.
There are already investments in developing smart safety systems that provide pre-emptive protection to intoxicated people who insist on driving. Equipped with driving monitoring and assistance systems, vehicles can analyze a driver’s condition based on the way they steer, brake, and negotiate roads. Using such behavioral data, the car can either activate brakes or issue warnings to the driver. There is still a long way to go before this type of technology becomes standardized, but it holds a promise for enhancing road safety.
Interior Motion Sensors
Apart from preventing on-road collisions, drivers must also know how to keep their vehicles safe when they are parked. This is where interior motion sensors come in handy. When someone forcibly enters your car, these sensors pick up movements inside the car. They then trigger an alarm and lock the vehicle in place.
These sensors can also detect oxygen and temperature levels. In cases when drivers leave their children or pets inside, the technology activates an alarm or notify the drivers through their smartphones. This can help prevent heatstroke and suffocation in vulnerable individuals like babies and seniors. From seatbelts to motion sensors, automotive safety technology has come a long way. With new features entering the market each year, we can expect vehicle casualties to decrease further among individuals and companies that manage a fleet.