The Latest Tech Making Cars Safer Than Ever

Cutting-edge technology is playing a key role in making cars safer. Front automotive emergency braking, for example, reduces the likelihood of front-to-rear crashes by 50%, while blind spot warning reduces land-change crashes by 14% and crashes with injuries by 23%, a recent

Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study reveals. By installing the right gadgets and tech in your car, you can help reduce your chances of collision and keep yourself safe on the road.

Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) 

An ignition interlock device (IID) is essentially a breathalyzer installed within a car. Just like a regular breathalyzer, it’s able to measure the amount of alcohol on the driver’s breath, and ultimately, stops drivers from getting behind the wheel while under the influence. If the IID detects the driver’s blood alcohol levels are too high, the car won’t start. According to the CDC, IIDs “reduce repeat offenses for driving while intoxicated (DWI) by about 70 percent while they are installed”, while a study by the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania found when used by people previously caught drunk driving, IIDs were “associated with 15 percent fewer alcohol-involved crash deaths, compared with states with less stringent requirements”.

Automatic emergency braking 

Most new cars are now being designed to include automatic emergency braking, which essentially forces the brakes to automatically engage to either stop or slow the car to prevent potential collisions. In fact, by 2025, automatic emergency braking is set to slash traffic collisions by as much as 50% and prevent 12,000 injuries. This is great news, especially when it comes to commercial vehicle accidents (which often involve larger vehicles like delivery service trucks or semi-trucks and trailers). The greater weight and size of commercial vehicles mean they typically cause significant damage in an accident. Commercial vehicle accidents in Austin, for example, often involve large, damaging 18-wheeler trucks, particularly on the often-congested l-35 corridor. Fortunately, by contacting an experienced car accident attorney, people involved in a commercial vehicle accident can build a strong case and pursue financial compensation to cover the cost of vehicle damage and medical expenses.

Augmented reality (AR) windshield

A cutting-edge development in car safety technology, AR windshields provide drivers with vital information via an augmented reality display that projects straight onto the car windshield. For example, drivers can therefore instantly get info on the car’s current speed, along with map and navigation data and safety alerts on nearby cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. For example, the Kia EV6, set to be released later this year, features an innovative augmented reality Heads Up Display. Thanks to this innovative AR windshield, drivers can benefit from graphics projecting straight onto their windshields, providing key real-time information on speed, fuel levels, and tire pressure. 

New tech is essential for improving car safety. Ignition interlock devices, automatic emergency braking, and AR windshields are the latest developments helping minimize road accidents and enhance car safety.