Advanced Safety Features for Alaska New Car Buyers
Technology has been at the forefront of auto makers’ dedication to safety for decades, but recent advancements show promise in terms of reducing the casualties from car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 36,000 people are killed in motor vehicle collisions every year, at a rate of almost 100 victims per day. Plus, another 2.5 million victims seek medical care at hospital emergency rooms for their auto crash injuries. In quoting these statistics, NHTSA points out that safety technology is one of the most effective means of countering the top cause of traffic accidents — human error.
As more vehicles are produced with these features in mind, it can be confusing to understand how they work and what role the driver plays. There are generally two types of advanced safety features, which aim to either prevent Alaska car accidents or mitigate the impact on vehicle occupants when one does occur. Some information about your options should be helpful if you are considering purchasing a new car.
Safety Tech for Accident Avoidance
These vehicle safety features are intended to eliminate the human error that is behind the vast majority of auto crashes. Examples of technology for preventing traffic collisions include:
- Lane Departure Warning: These systems employ a series of sensors that detect lane markings and can identify when a motorist is straying too far outside the lines. Lane departure issues an alarm, but will not take over steering.
- Forward Collision Warning: With this technology, cameras and sensors monitor your speed and compare it to the motorist traveling in front of you. When the speeds significantly vary, the forward collision warning system will alert you to a potential impact. It will not apply the brakes or take other evasive action.
- Auto Emergency Braking (AEB): NHTSA views this technology as being among the most critical for removing the element of human error from auto crashes. AEB also utilizes sensors to detect risks, but it goes farther than merely sounding an alarm to the driver. These systems will slow the vehicle and/or apply the brakes to avoid an impact.
Safety Features for Dampening the Impact of a Crash
Equally important to motor vehicle safety is protecting the occupants and taking other action when a collision is unavoidable. Not all motorists sharing the road with you will have accident-avoidance technology, and some drivers still fail to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. Your seatbelt is one of the most essential pieces of safety equipment, but additional options for accident mitigation include:
- Airbags;
- Energy-absorbing padding;
- Steel reinforcements in the vehicle’s frames, roof, and doors;
- Emergency communications systems that call first responders when they sense a collision; and,
- Child car seats and boosters.
Set Up a Consultation With Our Alaska Car Accident Lawyers
These advanced safety features may decrease the potential for collisions and risk of serious bodily harm, but no technology can prevent them entirely. If you were hurt in a car crash, contact Power & Power Law to set up a free consultation at our office