The Role of Technology in Preventing Car Accidents

In recent years, the automotive industry has seen significant advancements in driver assistance technology, a development aimed at reducing human error and enhancing road safety. This technology encompasses a variety of systems designed to assist drivers in various driving scenarios, ultimately aiming to prevent accidents.

Today’s vehicles come with a range of driver assistance technology to help motorists avoid mistakes and prevent car accidents. In addition, many auto manufacturers and tech companies have spent the past several years developing self-driving technology that, theoretically, should prevent even more car accidents by eliminating human error behind the wheel. But is this technology ready for the road, and should drivers trust it?

The Dawning of a New Era in Road Safety

Until recently, buyers could only find driver assistance features in expensive luxury cars. However, these features have since become available in more affordable vehicles. Driver assistance technology has given rise to a new era of road safety, preventing some car accidents from ever happening. Some technologies issue a warning to the vehicle’s driver about an impending collision, while others take over control from the driver and operate the vehicle directly.

The Unseen Guardian: Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

Here are some of the most exciting examples of driver safety technology in passenger cars today:

• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Automatic emergency braking (collision avoidance technology)
• Lane centering assistance
• Lane-keeping assistance
• Adaptive cruise control
• Backup cameras
• Automatic headlights/high beams

Bridging The Gap: The Human and Machine Partnership

As this technology has become more widespread across all levels of the automotive market, industry experts have defined the following six levels of driver assistance based on the level of automation that a system provides:

• Level 0: These systems provide limited warnings, requiring the driver to continuously supervise and perform all steering, braking, and acceleration. Examples include blind spot monitoring and lane departure warnings.
• Level 1: These systems provide steering or braking/acceleration assistance to the driver. Examples include adaptive cruise control and lane centering.
• Level 2: These systems provide more advanced steering and braking/acceleration support for a driver than Level 1 systems. Examples include adaptive cruise control systems that combine with lane centering.
• Level 3: These systems can drive the vehicle under limited conditions and will either not engage or return control to the driver if it encounters adverse conditions.
• Level 4: These systems can drive the vehicle under a broader range of conditions than Level 3 systems. If a vehicle does not have driver controls, a Level 4 system can safely bring the vehicle to a stop if it encounters adverse conditions that prevent safe operation.
• Level 5: These systems can drive vehicles in all conditions.

Are Self-Driving Cars Safe?

True self-driving cars would fall under the Level 4 or Level 5 category. Several companies have been working on self-driving technology over the last decade, while manufacturers such as Tesla, Ford, and General Motors have marketed vehicles as having “limited self-driving” functionality. 

Although many people see self-driving cars as the solution to accidents, as with any technology, they may be prone to malfunctions or errors never considered by the engineers who designed them. As a result, companies must do much more work and testing to perfect this potentially disruptive technology before deploying it in real-world circumstances. Drivers must also keep a close eye on the road at all times, even when the car is in self-driving mode. 

Contact Our Montgomery Car Accident Attorneys

Hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault? Our experienced car accident attorneys at Stokes Stemle, LLC can help you seek compensation for your medical and repair bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review with our Montgomery car accident lawyers to discuss your legal options for pursuing compensation.