Almost every car dealer offers a newer, safer model than the year before. Whether it’s more cameras, braking systems or an increase in technology, it seems like cars are packed to the brim with different safety features.
However, many people question if the additional features actually make cars safer? Before you can answer that question, you have to examine the common safety features in modern vehicles and how they help drivers on the road.
Breaking down safety systems
Most cars rely on Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) to navigate roads without any problems. For example, one of the newest ADAS is rear collision warning systems, where the vehicle can detect another vehicle behind you as you back out and applies the breaks for you.
Along with rear collision warning systems, the most common features include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot detection
- Collision warning
- Cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure warning
- Pedestrian detection system
- Road sign recognition
All these systems rely on sophisticated cameras and detectors in order to protect the driver and others near the vehicle. And it seems like this sophistication has succeeded over the last 10 years.
The success behind these systems
According to a study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, crash rates in lane-change crashes were reduced by at least 14% among vehicles with blind-spot monitoring than cars without that monitoring. The same can be said about numerous systems as crash frequencies continue to decline across the country.
However, these systems are not a guarantee against accidents. They need to be used in conjunction with safe practices and defensive driving skills as you navigate the streets. You cannot depend on a detector to catch a drunk or new driver, so make sure you still continue to rely on your skills while behind the wheel.