But, do you know how to get them most out of a new car’s technology? CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers an overview of the safety features and tips to help you unleash your car’s safety potential.
“Our main priority at CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is to help drivers be safer on the roads,” said Dean Fisher, VP of Operations. “While new technology can help improve safety, the key component of vehicle safety is the driver. By understanding your car’s safety capabilities and being an alert, engaged driver, you can dramatically decrease the chance of an accident or reduce the severity. But if an accident does occur, CARSTAR is ready to help get you back on the road with the highest quality repair available.”
TYPES OF COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS
The new systems that are being developed and refined help to cover a variety of potential mishaps. An assortment of sensors, cameras, lasers, short- and long-range radar, or combinations of cameras and radars are used to assist in crash prevention.
- Adaptive Cruise Control – Forward-mounted sensors are used to maintain a safe gap based on distance and speed. Adaptive cruise control uses the engine and brakes to maintain the preset gap.
- Adaptive Headlights – Help drivers see better on dark curved roads. Lights pivot in the direction of travel when a driver steers around curves and corners
- Lane Departure Warning Systems – Alerts driver when a vehicle strays out of its lane. And
- Forward Collision Warning – Uses sensors to determine the distance and speed between vehicles. If the system thinks a collision will occur, it will warn the driver. Some systems may even apply the vehicles brakes in an attempt to avoid the crash.
- Blind Spot Detection – Uses sensors to determine when another vehicle approaches or enters your blind spot. The system will warn the driver with a simple alert. Some systems may use brakes or steering controls to avoid collision.
- Park Assist – Uses cameras and sensors to help drivers avoid backing into or over obstacles.
DON’T RELY TOO MUCH ON TECHNOLOGY
While collision avoidance systems work to eliminate blind spots, give you eyes in the back of your head, maintain a safe distance between you and the cars around you, and keep you in your lane, it’s important to remember that they are there to assist. It is still as important as ever to keep both hands on the wheel and be free of distractions.
In most cases, this technology only works if a driver understands what’s going on and responds accordingly. It can become easy to either ignore the warnings or assume that the system will take care of everything. Just because there are options in the car to help you avoid an accident, it does not mean that you can become complacent and take your eyes off of the road. The rules for cell phone calls, texting, sightseeing, eating, applying makeup and other distractions still apply. Always be aware of what is happening around you.
Companies like Google are currently developing self-driving cars. While that might one day become part of our transportation future, it’s important to remember that one of it’s major flaws is human error. As of July 2015, Google's 23 self-driving cars have been involved in 14 minor traffic accidents on public roads. In each case, the cars were either being manually driven or the driver of another vehicle was at fault.
COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS HAVE THEIR LIMITATIONS
In addition to the human element, the technology itself can have limitations. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, lane departure warning systems rely on the ability of the sensors to register lane markings, which may be problematic on roads that aren't well marked or are covered with snow. Sensors such as cameras, radar and LIDAR also may be influenced by environmental factors such as lighting or precipitation. Most current systems struggle to detect the outside environment in low light or inclement weather.
Some systems only work at certain speeds. Other systems don't operate until turned on by the driver. Systems that rely on GPS to monitor the car's location, such as curve speed warning, are limited by the accuracy and availability of the digital maps.
It’s also very important to continue to use safe driving habits. While accident avoidance features are reaching new levels in technology, thus allowing for more intense braking features, often speed vs. road conditions can be a deciding factor in allowing your vehicle to take full advantage of the features in installed.
Proper maintenance is also key. Because these systems rely on scanners and cameras, the cleanliness of the lenses is extremely important for the systems to work properly. And, just as it does with the human eye, the angle of the sun shining on the sensors can cause the system to fail.
SPEAKING OF MAINTENANCE…
Proper up-to-date maintenance is a key component of safe driving. You should always maintain the correct air pressure in your tires. Regularly check tread depth and wear patterns. Your tires are what connects your car to the road. If they fail, no current crash avoidance system will be able to help you. Brake maintenance is critical as well.
New types of lighting are also being introduced as more and more manufacturers are developing and introducing LED head and tail lamps that not only help you see better, but also help other see you. One thing that doesn’t change with this technology is the importance on keeping lights clean and free from debris.
THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN WORK FOR YOU
Studies have shown that collision avoidance technology can reduce the amount of accidents and the severity of the accidents that do occur. According to Consumer Reports, the life-saving potential of crash-avoidance systems is so good that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests them as part of its safety evaluations. As of 2015, vehicles must both excel in crash tests and have a front-crash warning system with automatic braking to be named an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus. In addition, that “autobrake” has to function effectively in formal track tests that IIHS conducts.
The government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering making some of the systems mandatory. NHTSA vehicle-safety information shows which systems are available by model, but those features don’t yet influence the agency’s 5-Star Safety Ratings.
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts encourages you to always stay safe on the road. Should you find yourself in trouble, North America’s largest network of body shop owners will be there to help.
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 430 locations in 29 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR delivers national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee. For more information visit www.carstar.com.
