The average number of car accidents occurring in the US every year is six million: our roads are in desperate need of safety improvements. However, in 2021, we’re seeing innovative technology that could reduce those statistics, and even enhance the driver’s experience altogether. From driver assistance to a unique way to prevent driving under the influence, here’s a look at the latest vehicle safety technology.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems or ADAS isn’t a new concept, but they’re about to become much more mainstream due to their major benefits. ADAS involves a number of features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane assist technology, blind spot protection, and collision warning, to name just a few. However, ADAS has become even more advanced, with the Volvo SC-90 presenting as just one example, which incorporates ADAS technology that gauges driver fatigue, and even advises when to pull over in order to prevent an accident.
While the global ADAS market size is expected to increase, the safety behind the tech is certainly worth noting. In fact, it’s suggested that cars equipped with ADAS have anywhere from a 20 to 50 percent reduction in crashes, according to data compiled from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and manufacturers by CCC Information Services.
DUI prevention
In 2016, a shocking 10,497 people lost their lives due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes, which accounted for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Due to the sheer prevalence of DUI-related incidents and the injuries and fatalities they can cause, representatives at FVF Law (https://www.fvflawfirm.com/) note the importance of seeking compensation for the damages caused by an accident. However, innovative technology may be able to change the heavy statistics of DUI incidents for the better.
The breath-analyzing interlock is a new technology aimed at detecting impaired drivers, and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety announced that it will be available for use in commercial vehicles for the first time this year, with a consumer version potentially being ready by the year 2024. While ADAS-equipped vehicles could work to detect driver impairment and prevent accidents, the breath-analyzing interlock technology could help keep drunk drivers from getting on the road altogether by preventing the vehicle from starting should it detect that the driver has a blood alcohol level above a certain threshold.
Due to the high number of vehicle accidents and fatalities occurring every year, there’s hope that technology can aid in reducing the statistics and improving the safety of the roads. From DUI prevention to driver assistance technology, there are promising innovations working to become mainstream and do just that.
