Vehicle safety features have come a long way since their inception in the 19th Century, but today you would not even consider getting into a car without airbags, anti-lock brakes, seatbelts, and safety glass. Fortunately, US automakers continue to introduce advancements in safety technologies in the latest vehicle models. Though we are not quite at the level of fully automated cars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued an encouraging report: Auto manufacturers are reaching the culmination of the Five Eras of Safety in the realm of automated safety technologies.
While these features cannot eliminate the risk of deadly and injury-causing auto accidents in Baltimore County, MD, many types of vehicle safety equipment can help prevent a motor vehicle crash. Ask about these five technologies the next time you are in the market for a new car.
Vehicle Safety features
- Lane Departure Alerts: This system notifies an operator when he or she is straying outside the designated lane, which can reduce the frequency of accidents caused by drowsy driving. Some advanced solutions include a prevention feature to accompany the alert, which automatically steers the vehicle into the proper lane.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Most cars on the road today have cruise control, but the technology still relies on interaction from a driver. The latest version goes beyond resetting your speed once you slow down for traffic: Adaptive cruise control uses a camera or sensors to detect slower traffic ahead and will apply the brakes to adjust. The same technology will accelerate the vehicle when conditions are favorable to speed up.
- Cross-Traffic Alert Systems: This safety technology employs sensors or a camera that detects vehicles approaching from your side. You will hear a caution alert when an oncoming cross-traffic could result in a collision.
- Blind Spot Monitoring: Side and center mirrors do have their limitations, since you may not be able to see cars and other objects in your blind spot. You bet a better view into this danger zone with blind spot monitoring, which alerts you when a vehicle presents a threat. This feature helps you avoid a crash because you know when it is safe to change lanes.
- Automatic Braking: Reaction time is a factor in many accidents, because there is slight delay in transmitting the necessary messages from the brain to the body to engage a physical response. An automatic braking system takes the human factor out of the equation, applying the brakes faster than you can move your foot to the pedal.
Call a Baltimore County, MD FL Auto Accident Lawyer for Legal Advice
Innovations in automated safety features are promising, but other drivers on the road will still make mistakes and drive carelessly. Negligence will remain a top cause of motor vehicle crashes, and you could suffer considerable losses if you are injured as a result. For more information on your rights as a victim, please call the Owings Mills, MD offices of auto accident attorney Michael A. Freedman. We can schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your legal remedies.
See Related Blog Posts:
Fatal Uber Accident and the Future of Self-Driving, Autonomous Vehicles
Recent AAA Study on Drowsy Driving is a Reminder for Maryland Motorists
