Since drivers reported the first road accident, car manufacturers have innovative ways to keep drivers safe on the road. This doesn’t mean the first vehicles didn’t have safety features, but accidents have led to more innovations to secure lives. Currently, despite having many innovations, there are still car accidents. It all depends on the driving behavior and the use of these innovations to curb accidents. Most accidents are caused by distracted driving, excessive speeds, impairment, and fatigue. The modern vehicle, if driven well, will cause fewer accidents and injuries. This article will discuss some innovative solutions that are keeping drivers safe. Here is the list.
1. Seat Belts
Seatbelts were among the first safety solutions to keep drivers and their passengers safe during accidents. Despite being launched in 1958 by Volvo, seatbelts got accepted in 1966 by the NHTSA after experts noted their usefulness. Nowadays, many states and countries require all drivers and their passengers to fasten on seat belts, even when on short distances. In line with this experienced Houston auto injury lawyer, most injuries and deaths occur when drivers and passengers don’t use their seatbelts. Drivers and passengers will get severe injuries during an impact since there will be nothing to hold them from the impact. Ensure that you and your passengers fasten the seatbelt, even when traveling for shorter distances.
2. Anti-lock Braking System
The anti-locking braking system was launched in 1966 to prevent car rolling and other accidents caused by emergency brakes. This system prevents wheels from completely locking when braking. Through this, the vehicle becomes easier to control and will have decreased stopping distance. The system has reduced multi-vehicle accidents by 18 percent, while off-road crashes have decreased by 35 percent. This situation has reduced death and injuries too, and an anti-locking braking system also creates electronic stability control – ESC which detects dangerous situations and adjusts the braking intensity to prevent the vehicle from rolling or toppling over. Most light cars come with this system, which got introduced in 2012. Ensure your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system and it’s working well.
3. Head Restraints
Before then, travelers suffered from whiplash and other head and neck injuries when they got involved in an accident. Even though head restraints got launched in 1923, they went into effect in 1967 after governments approved them. Head restraints work effectively in preventing neck and head injuries during an accident. Currently, any car manufacturer must add headrests of a specific height to their vehicles to ensure their clients get protected during an accident. While some of these head restraints are removable, ensure they get replaced immediately or before you start your journey.
4. Airbags
Gone are the days when you will find vehicles without airbags. Even though there are some models without it, such is rare, and airbags got introduced by Ford to assist the seatbelts in providing safety during accidents. With increasing deaths and injuries, many companies, including the giant Mercedes Benz, embraced the airbags. Airbags prevent individuals from bumping into the vehicle during a collision. It also prevents the driver from crashing into the steering wheel.
Most vehicle manufacturers prefer their vehicles to have airbags other than seatbelts. Ensure your vehicle’s seatbelt and airbags are working well at all times. Once deployed, you need to ensure they are fixed again.
5. Emergency Brake Assist System
At times, your reaction to braking comes a second too late. To prevent this, many car manufacturers adopted the emergency braking system. The emergency brake assist system (EBA) got introduced in the 1990s. It works by assisting the driver to apply maximum brakes to ensure the vehicle doesn’t crash. At times, it helps in applying the brakes when the driver fails to, during emergencies. This situation reduces the stopping distances, thus preventing many accidents.
When a collision situation is imminent, the emergency brake system will activate the braking system without the driver’s involvement. It happens mostly in distracted driving when the driver engages in other things than what’s ahead. Even though the system is becoming better and reliable, it’s essential staying alert on the road and following the traffic rules to prevent accidents.
Other innovative solutions you can include on this list include tire pressure monitoring, driver assist, and lane-keeping assist system, and much more. Some companies are also coming up with self-drive vehicles, where they will use technology to move from one place to another without having a driver. While these measures will help immensely, it’s essential observing traffic rules and staying safe on the road to minimize accidents. Always have a lawyer to help you deal with compensation challenges after getting into an accident. Not all accidents guarantee compensation, though.