New Smart Cars Can Predict Emergencies and Make Drivers Safer
by: JasonLancaster |
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When it comes to vehicle safety, automakers are a little puzzled. How can it be that vehicle-related fatalities in the U.S. have been steady at 40,000 deaths a year even as vehicle safety measures continue to improve? Is all this vehicle safety technology really making us safer? One company has announced that the problem is not with the safety of the cars - it's with the drivers themselves.
Robert Bosch LLC has come out with new research that found two out of three drivers don't hit the brakes with enough force just before an accident. This isn't because the driver wants the accident - it's because the overload of information and stimuli, from multiple warning systems, distracting passengers, and the mental load of processing events on the road, all compete for mental resources, and slow down the decision-making process by a few vital milliseconds. The result is the driver hitting the brakes just a moment too late, or not quite hard enough.
As a solution to this, Bosch proposes using a predictive brake-assist technology, which constantly monitors the vehicle's surroundings to detect any likely accidents and determine stopping distance. If an accident is evident, the brake-assist technology will react by activating the hydraulic brake, which the vehicle's computer has engaged for full-force braking as soon as the anticipated accident is detected.
There are over two-million front-end collisions each year, and while there is no way to know how much the predictive brake-assist system will reduce this number, it's reasonable to assume it will help in some way. However, there is some argument that this technology will actually hurt safety. The argument is that because drivers will not understand the technology, they will assume the car will do the majority of the braking for them, and will not attempt to stop the car themselves. This argument seems absurd, but should not be discounted completely. More testing should be completed before this type of safety feature is mandated.
Some manufacturers have already begun using predictive braking technology in their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz, for example, uses the system in their SL550 model. The car is able to sense an emergency based on the amount of pressure the driver uses on the brake, and then applies the maximum power boost. Other manufacturers, such as Toyota, Cadillac, BMW and Volvo are experimenting with adding the technology to their future lines.
The predictive brake-assist system is just one example of a growing body of technology designed to improve vehicular safety. Another item currently in the works is the lane departure notification system. It uses an electronic eye to detect if the car is driving within the lines. If the vehicle drifts outside the lines, the system will emit an audible warning. This technology will most benefit drivers who may be falling asleep on the road.
In accordance with the theory that drivers may in fact pose a safety hazard to themselves, Bosch has proposed a modification to the current vehicle safety ratings. The proposed new safety ratings would include a sixth star, evaluating a vehicle's accident avoidance systems, such as the predictive braking and lane departure notification systems. This will help consumers to compare just how safe a vehicle really is, taking into consideration how it will help them avoid accidents, not just how the car will hold up in one.
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About the Author
Author Jason Lancaster, a car industry veteran, created AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate tips for buying a car and auto advice.
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