With the number of road accidents and fatalities slowly decreasing since 1991, it’s clear to see that something must be making our roads safer. Whilst increased driver and pedestrian awareness likely plays a huge role, one of the main reasons why such accidents have reduced is the advancements in car engineering and technology.
Today’s modern-day cars are being consistently upgraded and revamped during the manufacturing process to include new, innovative components specifically designed for safety. From new seatbelts to impressively-designed airbags, the vast majority of cars produced today provide many more safety features when compared to older cars. Whether you want to purchase a brand-new car and need to know the specific features to look for, or simply just want more information on today’s safety-boosting car technologies, here are some of the top innovations that are making our roads safer.
Fatigue warnings
Almost every driver has driven at least once whilst feeling tired and fatigued without even realising the potential dangers this could cause. Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous, with many not understanding its risks and choosing to ‘power through’ the tiredness and keep driving to get to their destination faster.
This is why some of the today’s cars now include monitoring technology specifically designed to detect fatigue. These systems can instantly detect any signs of reckless driving patterns as a result of tiredness such as frequently moving across lanes and sudden braking. If these habits are consistent and form a pattern, the car will then issue a loud warning to the driver to stop and take a break.
Backup cameras
Parking can be difficult at times for almost any driver but, if you’re behind the wheel of a large vehicle like a RAM 1500 pick-up truck, it is often much more challenging. Until recent years, we’ve solely relied on side and rear-view mirrors to park, which often don’t offer quite enough sight of what’s actually going on around the vehicle.
But, with the addition of backup cameras, you’ll be able to instantly see everything that’s occurring around your car as you try to park on a useful dashboard display screen. Then, if a sudden pedestrian comes out of nowhere, you’ll have a much higher chance of avoiding them than if you were simply relying on standard mirrors.
External airbags
Specifically designed to reduce the impact of crashes, airbags have only ever been placed inside the vehicle. But some car manufacturers have recognised that whilst this may increase safety for those inside the car, it does nothing for any pedestrians or animals that may be involved in a collision. So now, some high-end vehicles feature a sensory mechanism in the external bumper which will launch a windshield airbag if a hit has been detected.
Whilst road accidents have declined in recent years, they’re still far from abolished. But with today’s innovative technologies being introduced across a range of modern-day vehicles, road safety has a high chance of improving even more for both drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.