Accident avoidance technology in cars has come a very long way. In fact, if you have recently purchased a new vehicle, you might be surprised by all the safety features included. The accident avoidance technology built into your car is intended to help keep everyone on our roadways safer, but exactly how effective is this technology? The fact is that accident avoidance technology continues to become more and more useful, but there are some mixed results.
The best way to maximize the effectiveness of your car's safety features is to familiarize yourself with them and how they work. When you feel comfortable with the technology, it is far more likely to help keep you safe.
Positive Feedback
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that some driver assistance technologies are helping to reduce the rate of dangerous accidents on our roads. The IIHS points out, however, that drivers’ attitudes toward and acceptance of these new safety technologies is critical to ongoing success, and several factors can come into play:
- Drivers who do not trust the safety features’ effectiveness
- Drivers who are leery of using the technology
- Drivers who do not understand the warning signals implemented
- Drivers who become overwhelmed by the warning signals used
Any one or combination of these factors can render the safety technology involved useless – or worse.
Interpreting Safety Feedback
Some drivers can become overwhelmed, confused, or even distracted by the need to interpret safety signals – especially multiple signals. In order to drive safely, every driver must understand how to safely operate his or her vehicle, including interpreting and safely reacting to accident avoidance technology. Taking the time to acclimate to your vehicle’s new features – when and how they engage, how to react to them, and how to override them if they fail to engage properly – is the best way to maximize the usefulness of your vehicle’s accident avoidance technology.
Front Crash Prevention Prevents Accidents
Of all the accident avoidance technology out there, front crash prevention systems are among the most successful. These safety devices incorporate visualizing technologies to determine when your vehicle is getting too close to the car in front of you. Generally, this safety system will warn you and prepare your brakes to engage if you do deploy them. If you fail to brake, most newer systems will do it for you.
Front crash prevention systems are becoming more and more common. In fact, the majority of automakers have committed to standardizing the technology by 2022. When compared to like models that do not have the technology, vehicles with front crash prevention systems are less likely to cause rear-end accidents.