How New Auto Technology is Enhancing Automobile Safety
Information from INJURY FACTS shows population per vehicle in 1937 averaged 30.8 deaths per 100,000 populations. With the incorporation of new auto technologies designed to mitigate road fatalities and injuries, the death rate currently stands at 11.9 per 100,000 populations.
Every sector in this world is at a fast pace to adopt the latest technology. The main aim is not only to look smart but improve efficiency and effectiveness. Like any other sector, the automobile sector has not been left behind. In fact, it’s among the fastest evolving sectors.
From increasing powertrain to enhancing safety, almost every latest vehicle model has the latest technology incorporated to offer the best service. Automobile safety has been a major concern to manufacturers, pedestrians, drivers, occupants and state departments.
Models like Nissan Almera, Audi, and Volvo have invented packages of safety systems that have greatly enhanced safety to all parties in the automotive industry. Nissan Intelligent Mobility is a set of technologies integrated into the Nissan Almera to increase the safety of the car. Equally, Honda’s Advanced Safety systems comprise a broad spectrum of safety systems all meant to enhance its model’s safety standards.
There are many new auto technologies featured in almost all current models. Each safety system has its intended purpose.
Forward collisions have for long remained of major concern to automobile manufacturers. To mitigate forward collisions, almost every car is today fitted with a Forward Collision Warning. Out of this warning technology alone, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) report showed rear-end collisions reduced by 27 per cent.
To reduce forward-to-rear and side collisions vehicle manufacturers have incorporated systems like forward-collision warnings. To alert the driver of an imminent forward or rear collision, modern cars are fitted with audible warning alerts, side and rear cameras and radar systems among others.
Among the modern auto technologies meant to mitigate forward collisions include:
Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking
With this technology, the system monitors the surrounding front area and determines whether there is a risk of collision.
If there is a real threat and the driver does not take immediate action, the system alerts the driver through audio and visual alerts. And to prevent the vehicle from collision, automatic emergency braking kicks in stopping the car before the collision occurs.
Pedestrians are always at a higher risk of deaths compared to car occupants. To increase pedestrians’ safety, some car models are equipped with forwarding collision warning with pedestrians’ detection. This system detects pedestrians at the front area of the vehicle and then alerts the driver.
In case you are driving Nissan Almera, an emergency stop sign will appear on the instrument cluster.
The reverse collision warning system is another new technology adopted by a majority of automobile manufacturers and has reduced reverse collisions by a great margin. By use of sensors and cameras at the rear bumper, audios and visual are used to alert the driver in case there is a likelihood of collision at the vehicle’s rear. Objects at the rear detected when reversing the car.
Front-to-rear collisions among cars especially during heavy traffic are a common phenomenon. To maintain a safe distance behind other cars, the Adaptive Cruise System is loaded in most modern cars and trucks. When this system is functioning, the cars speed adjusts automatically to maintain a safe following distance.
The Adaptive Cruise System is believed to have increased road safety by helping drivers to maintain a constant safe following. This technology is used in auto brands such as BMW, Nissan, Honda, Kia and Hyundai.
Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
Mazda, Lexus, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Hyundai and Lincoln are renowned for utilizing Blind Spot Warning technology effectively. When there’s a vehicle in the blind spots on either side of a car, a visual alert warns the driver. Accidents that happen when cars are interchanging lanes rarely occur when this new auto technology is on. Other systems incorporate an audible warning which goes on immediately after the turn signal is switched on.
Front, Passenger and Center Airbags
National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NHTSA) 2020 reports estimates that 50,457 lives were saved by 2017 by frontal airbags alone. Again, front airbags are estimated to reduce driver’s fatalities by 29%, while fatalities for front-seat occupants aged 13 years and above are reduced by 32%.
You can hardly today see a single modern car without frontal airbags. And since injuries and deaths occasioned by car accidents are caused by impacts from any side, today cars have extra airbags at the sides and at the centre of the seats.
Some Hyundai models have incorporated airbags between the driver and the front passenger seats. The combination of seat belts and airbags has enhanced the safety of drivers and passengers by a high percentage. With almost everybody part cushioned by airbags during front and side impacts, our lives are better protected than during the old days.
