A Beginner's Guide To Car Safety Technology In 2021

In the past few years, emerging technologies have played a major role in the way we experience automobiles. They have made the entire car driving experience safer, entertaining, exciting, connected, and comfortable.

Whether we talk of voice-controlled massage seats or connected technology that lets us know when the car needs a service, technology has made it possible.

One area where many innovators, brands, and critics have paid careful attention is the issue of safety. Car accidents continue to be the single biggest cause of unnatural fatalities the world over. With millions of automobiles joining our roads every year, the issue of safety becomes of paramount importance.

The Role played by Regulators and Governments in pushing Car Manufacturers towards Safety

When it comes to pressurizing auto manufacturers to improve safety features in the vehicles, the results can be termed as a mixed bag.

For example, in the developed countries of the world, the enforcement of the norms is much more stringent. For example, a vehicle can only be sold if it has a certain safety rating (NCAP) or it should have a minimum of 4 Safety Airbags.

However, when you come to emerging economies and developing countries, regulators are lax in the face of economic development. In India for example, it is only last year that regulators enforced two safety airbags for the front occupants. Cars and manufacturers in India can get away with a Zero Safety Rating as well.

While there is greater awareness and consciousness in the general public, regulators need to go that extra mile to not compromise on safety issues. there is no doubt that a start has been made in the right direction. However, it is also true that there is still a long way to go.

Top 5 Technologies helping in improving Car Safety

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)-

Many experts refer to this as a semi-autonomous model of driving a vehicle. In this the car lets the driver know about certain important elements that are going on around the vehicle. For example, if another car is making a quick overtaking maneuver, your car will alert you through sensors and cameras. This is an incredibly useful feature that helps in blind-spot monitoring.

360-Degree Vehicle Coverage Cameras-

While rear parking cameras are something that we are all familiar with, in recent years, automakers have started offering 360-degree cameras in their vehicles. This helps the driver know exactly what is happening around them. It also helps in scanning the road ahead and applying autonomous emergency brakes in case there is someone in front of your car.

Hill Control Assist and Start-

We all know how difficult it is to start a vehicle on an incline and move ahead. If you do not have hill control start assist, you will invariably end up rear-ending another vehicle or whoever is behind you. We try to push for extra gas and stress the clutch of the vehicle if we are to start on an incline. This is a simple, yet useful safety feature that is proving to be beneficial.

Smart and Connected Car Technology-

A vehicle now comes with an embedded SIM that can help relay crucial information to important authorities. For example, if you have been in an accident, a connected car will relay the same information to the North Miami Beach accident injury clinic immediately. This can help in getting prompt medical attention and help save your life in case of accidents.

Autonomous Parking and Exit Systems-

While most people think of autonomous parking and vehicle call as flimsy and showy, the fact is that they are very useful. If it is raining heavily, you can call the vehicle to you so that you do not slip and suffer from an injury in heavy rains. If your vehicle has this feature, you will realize how incredibly useful it is for getting out of sticky situations.

The Bottom Line

In this article, we have tried to discuss some of the major technologies that are impacting vehicular safety. If we are to bring road accidents and deaths down, we need to keep pushing governments and automakers to take help from technology and try to make our driving experiences a lot safer.