Top 10 Automotive Safety Innovations For Teens & New Drivers

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

The most safe vehicles are cars with the most advanced modern technology. Among the more advanced safety systems available is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). ACC makes use of powerful radar sensors that keep your car or truck at a risk-free distance from cars in front of you and your passengers. Here is how the ACC feature works:

• The driver sets the cruise control max speed.
• The ACC radar system stays at a safe distance from the cars you are following.
• When sensing an imminent accident, the ACC will use the vehicle’s AEB system (see the next safety innovation) to slow or stop the car.

AEB: Automatic Emergency Braking

Distracted driving is a growing problem for 21st century drivers. This is largely due to personal device use while driving, especially with new drivers. AEB systems are designed to avoid an accident before it happens. In the event of an unavoidable collision, the AEB system will:

• Alert the driver with an audible alarm – some systems will also use vibrating seats and steering wheels, as well.
• If the driver does not engage the brake promptly enough to avoid an accident, the AEB system will engage the brakes automatically to help stop or minimize the extent of a forward collision.
• In case the driver requires additional braking assistance, the next safety feature steps in.

Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)/Crash Imminent Braking (CIB)

More car, truck, and SUV makers are adding additional automated braking systems to help drivers in preventing or drastically decreasing the intensity of a collision. The addition of a DBS/CIB system assists the driver by:

• Automatically adding brake pressure should the car, truck, or SUV senses the driver’s braking pressure is insufficient to stop the car prior to a collision.
• In the event that the driver fails to use the brakes at all, the CIB system kicks in to automatically apply the brakes to reduce the damage or avoid of a collision.

Adaptive Headlights

With these extraordinary headlights, dark corners on badly lit roads are a thing of the past. Linked to the steering system, the head lights turn in the very same direction the steering wheel is turning in order to light up the area the vehicle is turning into. This innovation is particularly helpful in rural areas with minimal or no exterior illumination.

Forward Collision Warning

Thanks to this safety innovation, distracted driving is becoming less of a problem. Video cameras, radar, and even lasers are masterfully utilized to inform drivers when objects in front of them are getting too close to the front of your vehicle. Toss in an automated emergency braking system and you can rest easy when your teenage driver is on the roadway.

Blind Spot Detection

Speaking of keeping your eyes on the road, that aggravating blind spot has finally been permanently addressed thanks to this safety innovation. Cameras and\or lasers keep an eye out in areas on your car that the majority of drivers are unable to. A caution alert ensures you are aware of another vehicle’s presence before you move into their lane.

Lane Keeping System (LKS)/Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Even more excellent news for distracted drivers. Cameras and lasers are also made use of to observe the lane markings on the average road. When the system senses the vehicle has begun vacating its lane, it will alert the driver with lights and alarms, a vibrating steering wheel, and even a vibrating seat.

Rear-View Camera

This safety tech is frequently confused with back-up cameras; but the difference between these 2 incredible features is stark. While back-up cameras typically have a limited field of view, rear view cameras usually make use of wide-angle lenses to offer the driver a much more comprehensive view of what or who is behind them.

TPMS: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

As the name implies, your car’s TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in all4 tires and notifies the driver with dashboard lights and even alarms should the tire pressure get to critical levels.

Facial Recognition Software

Finally, we have one of the latest enhancements to our automotive safety suites. Thanks to improvements in facial recognition technology, cars are beginning to include this technology to keep track of driver awareness. Once calibrated to the driver’s distinct physical attributes, the software can identify a change in driver attention levels. The software will then notify the driver with dashboard lights and alarms. This being a brand-new safety feature, drivers can anticipate advanced notifying actions like vibrating seats and steering wheels.