Automated Car Safety Systems That Save Lives [Infographic]

Cars with automated safety systems like collision avoidance features, electronic blind-spot monitoring, automated braking, and lane-keeping systems prevent crashes and serious injuries to drivers and passengers.

Automated Car Safety Systems

Car manufacturers are building cars with various automated safety systems that help to prevent accidents and injuries. These systems can prevent collisions by giving warning alerts to drivers and implementing safety controls in vehicles. Although these systems increase a vehicle's purchase price, added safety warrants the price difference for most drivers.

(Article continues below Infographic)

______

Collision Avoidance

Vehicles equipped with collision avoidance systems can anticipate collisions. They automatically correct the steering or apply the brakes to avoid accidents seen by a personal injury lawyer. Collision avoidance systems use lasers, cameras, sensors and radar to monitor a vehicle's surroundings. Systems can sense and see vehicles, road signs, and traffic signals, as well as motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. They input information into the car's computer system that prompts action from the driver. If the driver doesn’t respond, the system will activate the car's braking system.

Blind-Spot Monitoring

Electronic blind-spot detection systems issue warnings by using sensors that give audible sounds or visual alerts to drivers. Cross-traffic sensors detect cars that are approaching from the sides. Sensors are usually located in side mirrors or the rear camera's dashboard display system. Studies by the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that these safety systems lower the rate of lane-change crashes by 14 percent and related injuries rates by 23 percent. IIHS predicts that approximately 50,000 crashes could be prevented each year if all passenger vehicles were equipped with these systems.

Automated Braking

Cars with automated emergency braking systems reduce collision speeds and/or stop the car to prevent impending car accidents. Automated braking systems can prevent forward and rear crashes. Cars with rear automatic braking systems apply the brakes when sensors detect something behind the vehicle. This can be applied to parallel parking or any situation when the driver is backing up.

Lane-Assist Features

Lane-assist safety features keep vehicles safely in their own lane. Lane-keeping assist features automatically correct the car's steering or braking when lane markings are crossed. Lane-centering assist features provide continuous active steering that keeps vehicles in their own lane. According to IIHS, lane-keeping systems that warn drivers when they are drifting out of their lane or control the steering to keep cars between the lines painted on the road reduce sideswipe and head-on crashes by 11 percent.