New vehicles contain an array of safety features. From autonomous capabilities like lane departure warnings to blind spot detectors and rear-view cameras, new features are improving safety for drivers and others on the roadways.
Take a look at some of the most effective vehicle safety features.
In a poll by USA Today, 49 percent of drivers surveyed said their vehicle’s blind spot alert helped them avoid a crash.
These alerts help drivers see objects in their blind spots that they might have missed. This is done by showing a yellow or orange light in the car-door mirrors to draw the driver’s attention. While drivers still need to check their blind spots when driving, the alert provides an added safety measure.
Rear-view cameras (which are also referred to as backup cameras), allow drivers to see what’s behind their vehicles when they are reversing. This can assist with parking and backing out of spots. The cameras also give drivers a clear view of the ground behind their vehicle, allowing them to detect small children or animals behind the car that might not otherwise have been seen in the rear-view mirror.
In the USA Today survey, 42 percent of drivers said backup cameras helped prevent an accident.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) takes cruise control to a new level, using sensors and radar to allow the car to accelerate and brake as needed. Most commonly used by drivers on long stretches of highway, ACC allows the vehicle to keep a safe distance from the car in front of it. According to Forbes, if ACC senses a collision, it will apply the brakes and tighten passenger seatbelts.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) will automatically force a vehicle to start braking if the system senses a potential collision and the driver doesn’t react.
According to the USA Today poll, 35 percent of those surveyed credited the AEB system with preventing a crash.
Lane departure warnings help keep vehicles in their lanes by alerting drivers through a warning system that they are leaving their current lane. This can prevent vehicles from drifting over the lane marker and potentially causing an accident.