Traffic related injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 29. This alarming statistic highlights the vulnerability of younger populations on the roads and emphasizes the urgent need for more effective safety measures to protect them.
When we look at the issue from this perspective—not as a distant statistic or a mere number, but with the awareness that our youth are dying on our modern roads—it drives us to create vehicles that are increasingly safer and smarter.
Today, we will review many of the technological advancements in vehicles, both in terms of prevention and self-driving features, offering us a glimmer of hope for the future.
Autonomous Driving
We no longer live in an era of trial and error with autonomous driving. That was a decade ago, around 2012-2013, when the first statistics on self-driving cars began to be recorded.
By 2021, approximately 80 companies were conducting tests on about 1,400 self-driving cars, trucks, and other vehicles across 36 states. Reflecting this progress, around 55% of Americans believe that most cars will have the capability to drive themselves by 2029.
What we know today is that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), human error accounts for 94% of all accidents. In this context, there is significant hope that autonomous driving will reduce the number of accidents. Even the most pessimistic studies suggest that the reduction could reach up to 35%.
Lives Saved
You may often hear in news articles or reports that traffic accidents are increasing exponentially each year, particularly in the U.S., and that fatality numbers continue to rise. This can paint a grim picture. However, it’s important to also consider the positive impact of smart technology on road safety.
Compared to vehicles from the late 1950s, those from 2012 offer an estimated 56% lower risk of fatalities for their occupants.
According to the NHTSA, improvements in vehicle safety have significantly increased the number of lives saved each year:
- 1960: 115 lives saved
- 2012: 27,621 lives saved
In total, from 1960 to 2012, these advancements in safety technology have helped save over 600,000 lives.
A Rear-End Issue
A survey by the NHTSA found that approximately 30% of accidents involve rear-end collisions. While most of these rear-end collisions do not result in fatalities or severe injuries, they often cause long-term health issues for those affected. Cross-referencing this data suggests that rear-end collisions could be a significant concern for autonomous driving systems, indicating a potential area for improvement and focusing attention on where problems may arise.
Automatic Emergency Features
Automatic high beams
These are a highly convenient feature that enhances safety. These headlights can automatically switch between high and low beams based on the distance detected from braking vehicles, pedestrians crossing suddenly, and other potential hazards that might indicate an impending accident.
Emergency Auto-Stop
Emergency auto-stop utilizes sensors and cameras installed around the vehicle to continuously monitor for potential dangers. When it detects something hazardous, such as an object approaching too closely, it rapidly evaluates whether automatic braking is the safest course of action. If it determines that braking is warranted, it engages the brakes automatically, often with a response time faster than that of a human driver.
Research and practical examples have underscored the effectiveness of this technology. For instance, data from the NHTSA indicates that automatic emergency braking systems, like Emergency Auto-Stop, have been shown to reduce rear-end collisions by as much as 50%. This technology has played a crucial role in lowering accident rates and potentially saving many lives.
Automatic Emergency Calling
In the event of a severe collision, this feature is capable of quickly assessing the crash’s severity and swiftly contacting the appropriate emergency services. Using the vehicle’s system, it places the call and provides your location via the car’s GPS. This rapid response is crucial for ensuring timely assistance in emergencies.
Lane Assist
The vehicle employs specialized cameras to monitor road markings. If it detects that your car is drifting out of its lane without signaling, Lane Assist feat will subtly guide your vehicle back to the center of the lane. This system operates smoothly and unobtrusively, preventing sudden or erratic maneuvers, such as panic braking.
Laser Technologies
There are some very interesting additions in modern cars, such as the so-called LiDAR technology. There are two types:
3D LiDAR: This type of laser is responsible for measuring distances from non-living objects that may represent a danger, like a vehicle obstructing our view.
4D LiDAR: This is an additional intelligent feature. These lasers not only measure distances but also calculate the speed of those objects, allowing the system to anticipate, for example, a sudden emergency braking a couple of hundred meters ahead.
Blind Spot Monitors
Your car is equipped with sensors and cameras positioned on the sides, near the rear. These tools constantly monitor the lanes next to you, where visibility is limited. When another vehicle enters these blind spots, the system responds. If you attempt to change lanes, a light may illuminate on your mirror, or you might hear a beep.
Enhanced Night Vision
Enhanced Night Vision employs sophisticated cameras specifically designed for superior visibility in low-light environments. These cameras can detect thermal signatures or project a unique type of light, allowing them to capture clear images of the road far beyond the reach of regular headlights. The visuals are displayed on a screen inside the vehicle, helping you identify pedestrians, animals, and obstacles that would normally be difficult to spot with standard headlights.
Alertness Monitoring
Machines aim not only to improve vehicle performance and safety but also to prevent human error. Drowsy driving is a major cause of accidents, especially on interstate highways. For this reason, some vehicles are equipped with features designed to scan key indicators from the driver to ensure they are in optimal condition and attentive to the road.
Eye Movement and Closure: The system monitors your eye activity, detecting frequent eyelid closure or insufficient blinking, both of which are typical indicators of fatigue.
Steering Patterns: This feature analyzes how you control the steering wheel. If your grip loosens or your steering becomes irregular, this could signal a lapse in attention.
Lane Position: Some systems also track whether the vehicle begins to drift from its lane without a clear reason, such as the use of a turn signal.
Connected Vehicle Systems
Connected Vehicle systems, often referred to as V2X technologies, allow vehicles to communicate and exchange information with other road users and vehicles about their position, speed, and travel direction. This data exchange enhances driver assistance in multiple scenarios, such as merging lanes, overtaking, navigating through intersections, and safeguarding vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
What Lies in the Future?
According to PolicyAdvice:
- 43% of Americans feel uneasy about riding in a driverless car, primarily due to safety concerns.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety found:
- 75% of people would prefer to drive themselves rather than use an autonomous vehicle (AV).
- 71% of respondents said they would miss driving if autonomous vehicles became the norm.
Entities
The NHTSA has been committed to enhancing vehicle safety for many years. NHTSA establishes and enforces safety regulations while also pioneering innovative approaches to vehicle safety, such as the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Expanded in 1993, the 5-Star Safety Ratings system within NCAP marked its 40th anniversary in 2019. Significant advancements have been made in vehicle safety over the decades, resulting in safer cars.
You can check how your vehicle model is ranked in safety ratings here: Rank Your Vehicle’s Safety.
More information regarding safety features referenced in the article can be found at Budget Auto Transporter