5 Things to Look for in the Future of Car Safety

Some believe that the best way to reduce vehicle-related fatalities is to make vehicles safer through technology. Whether or not that will lead to self-driving vehicles taking over the roads remains up in the air. Nonetheless, a push in that direction does exist.

Those who keep up with news in this space know that the industry continues testing and tweaking self-driving vehicles in hopes of changing reality for drivers.

Until that day arrives, the vehicle industry has made other safety advances. Creating animal sensors is among the latest. Drivers rarely intend to hit dogs, squirrels, or deer that dart into the roads. It’s almost impossible to see them and stop in certain conditions. Plus, it’s difficult for haulers to come to a complete stop quickly.

Tech developers and entrepreneurs seek to overcome common safety issues that human drivers experience, such as distracted driving. One way tech is attempting to prevent distracted driving accidents is through intuitive brakes.

Here we explore five things to look for in the future of car safety.

1. Animal Detection with Radars and Infrared

As human sprawl and natural disasters have impacted animals and where they live, animals continue making more appearances in cities and towns. 

In some parts of the United States, you expect to see a deer or elk crossing the road. In others, you’ll see neighborhood cats, dogs, and possums hanging out. 

Nocturnal animals make roads more dangerous for drivers. It’s already difficult to stay in the lanes – suddenly stopping for wildlife makes it more precarious. 

Therefore, the tech field is coming up with animal detection systems through radars and infrared equipment. 

It’s traumatizing to hit something on the road – it’s more emotional knowing that you might have killed it. Just under 30% of drivers stop and check on the animal and only 1% of those who stopped experienced an injury to their person.

Annually, drivers hit up to two million large animals. Hitting anything on the road will cost the owner. Thus, this new safety tech might reduce the impact of drivers on wildlife and the cost of hitting an animal. 

2. Night View Assist

The biggest nighttime driving challenge is vision impairment. Cities tend to have well-lit roads and highways but those artificial lights can still negatively impact drivers. 

Therefore, night view assist is a tech that entrepreneurs seek to install in new vehicles. As a safety feature, it will help them see in front of them more clearly. 

Night view assist uses thermographic tech to make the driver’s view clearer. A camera transmits the video to a screen inside the car usually situated on the center console or dashboard. 

It’s the same tech that helps drivers see behind them and their blind spots while attempting to parallel park. 

Keep in mind that drivers don’t just hit wildlife; they also hit humans. If you need vehicle-accident-related help, make a call to experienced professionals.

3. Mood Sensors

Drowsy driving is among the leading safety issues among drivers. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that drowsy driving leads to at least 300,000 crashes annually.

Thus, entrepreneurs have started to create mood sensors. If the vehicle detects an adverse mood that can impact the driver’s safety, it will lock the car. The tech is similar to personal in-car breathalyzers. 

If the breathalyzer detects that the driver surpasses the legal alcohol limit, the car will not start. The new tech would detect the driver’s mood and based on some parameters, it would prevent them from driving. The tech could also take over for a driver who becomes drowsy on the road.

4. Cross-Traffic Alerts

Cross-traffic accidents are among the scariest and most dangerous. The speed of traffic that does not stop at an intersection surpasses the speed of those gaining it.

Thus, entrepreneurs continue seeking how to deliver cross-traffic alerts to drivers and prevent these accidents. 

Research shows that cross-traffic mishaps cause 25% of accidents and 50% injuries annually.

5. Intuitive Brakes

Given the above car safety tech advances, it makes sense that entrepreneurs aim to develop intuitive brakes. 

Since vehicles will become moving computers equipped with sensors, radars, and cameras, the car will have the necessary tech to hit the brakes when it senses danger. 

As vehicle tech becomes more efficient, car manufacturers will help normalize it. Then, car buyers can expect it to become standard and the prices will drop to acceptable levels.


Conclusion

To overcome distracted and drowsy driving, entrepreneurs continue developing technology that addresses each and other safety issues. Thus, they seek to make vehicles and drivers safer in the future.

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