Safety features in motor vehicles were once all completely optional. However, as motor vehicle travel became the standard for most working adults and speeds increased, crashes became more common and severe. Safety Systems became mandatory due to the increased risk of driving.
Seat belts were the first requirement imposed on manufacturers. After that came airbags. Both restraints and airbags remain the most critical safety equipment in vehicles, but they have long been standard in all mass-produced models. In recent years, lawmakers have made backup cameras mandatory. Many manufacturers integrate other types of safety systems beyond the basics that can help keep people safe.
What cutting-edge safety systems are the most beneficial for motorists and others near them?
3. Automatic emergency braking
Front-over collisions where drivers fail to notice pedestrians have been on the rise in recent years. Some manufacturers have helped address this issue with radar sensors capable of spotting pedestrians. They couple that technology with automatic braking software that can slow down and stop a vehicle when a driver fails to respond to a nearby pedestrian. Researchers estimate this technology could save hundreds of lives and prevent tens of thousands of injuries annually.
2. Side-impact protection for rear passengers
Many of the worst crashes are angle collisions, like T-bone wrecks. Traditional safety systems provide protection from head-on collisions, but not necessarily side-impact crashes. Improved seat belts and side airbags, as well as improved design of door panels, could potentially reduce the injuries and fatalities in side-impact collisions.
1. Automatic crash notification
Getting help as soon as possible after a wreck can be a life-or-death matter. When one driver speeds off in a hit-and-run or the occupants of both vehicles are incapacitated, there is no one to contact emergency services. Vehicles with automatic crash notification, which has become a common feature, can contact emergency services after a collision. Vehicles can provide GPS information so that first responders can get there as quickly as possible. They can even provide information about the severity of the crash so that help comes with the right equipment.
Each of these systems can potentially save lives. Prioritizing the right safety systems can help people choose a vehicle that could protect them and others in traffic. Drivers also need to have a plan in case they do experience a car crash so that they don’t have to absorb the costs caused by someone else’s mistake.
