Hype vs. Help: New safety features in cars

 

Advances in car technology have made it difficult to choose what add-ons you really need and which are excessive or worse yet, dangerous. We’re all for innovation, but we want to help you find out what new safety features are all hype and which ones can actually help protect you on the road. Whether you’re in the market for a new car or you’re simply curious about the newest safety features, check out our assessments of some of the most cutting-edge car technologies.

Front crash prevention

Front crash prevention includes features that both warn you when a front end collision is imminent and automatically apply the brakes to help you avoid a crash. New crash avoidance technologies, such as front crash prevention, are already reducing insurance claims from at-fault drivers. This safety feature is quickly becoming an available option in all new cars, but it can vary in effectiveness. Check the make and model of the car you’re considering on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) safety ratings to find out if it has a superior front crash prevention system.

HELP Less “bang” for your buck.

Voice activated texting

Phone related driving accidents are responsible for a growing number of car crashes. Texting while driving is the number one offender, but taking your eyes off the road for any reason is extremely hazardous. Hands-free car technology that allows you to keep your eyes on the road may seem like an advance in car safety, but studies have shown that voice activation systems cause mental distractions that can slow down a driver’s reaction times.

HYPE Use your head. Texts can wait.

Lane departure warning

Lane departure warning technology alerts you when you’re about to veer out of your lane unless your turn signal is on. This feature has progressed recently to include Lane Keep Assist, which automatically corrects your car’s course to keep you centered on the road. It might sound like a self-driving car, but the steering wheel movements are very subtle and can be overridden at any time.

HELP What’s not to like?

Rain sensing wipers

Windshield wipers are a critically important car safety feature, but why change something that doesn’t need improving? With the flick of the wrist, windshield wipers are as easy to operate as power windows. Rain sensing wipers use infrared lights to detect if your windshield glass is dry – something the human eye can do just fine. If you aren’t able to spot when it’s raining, you probably shouldn’t be driving in the first place.

HYPE If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Touch screen controls

Similar to smart phones, touch screen car consoles also require you to take your eyes off the road to operate. Touch screen car controls can be difficult to use and some even come with highly distracting features like an integrated web browser. Limited touch screen functionality, like GPS, can be useful, but conventional knobs and buttons make it easier for you to keep your eyes on the road.

HYPE Overly complicated touch screens are distracting.

Backup cameras

Cameras that allow you to see what’s in the blind spot behind your car are useful for parking, but more importantly they can save a life. Accidents that result from backing up cause an average of 292 deaths per year. Backup cameras are especially useful on larger vehicles, such as SUVs, where the blind spot might be large enough to hide a small child from your view.

HELP Another pair of eyes can only help you see better.

Innovative Technology Aims to Detect Drowsy Driving

 

Driving drowsy is an accident waiting to happen – causing more than 100,000 auto accidents and 1,550 deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

In response, carmakers and tech companies are developing technology to detect tiredness in drivers.

 

Volvo is researching a system that uses dashboard sensors to recognize if a driver is inattentive. The sensors monitor the driver’s head position and angle, the direction of their gaze, and how open their eyes are. The data is then relayed to the car’s Lane Keeping Aid and Collision Warning with full auto brake to alert the driver.

 

Ford’s Driver Alert System, featured in its Fusion Hybrid model, uses a forward-looking camera to identify signs of driver drowsiness, such as drifting between traffic lanes, and triggers a two-stage warning system.

 

Mercedes-Benz’s ATTENTION ASSIST determines driving style by analyzing more than 70 factors in the first few minutes of a drive, including steering movements, interaction with the vehicle’s controls, and even wind and road conditions. If it all adds up to driver fatigue, ATTENTION ASSIST sounds an alert.

 

Volkswagen’s Fatigue Detection system also analyzes driving characteristics after 15 minutes of driving to calculate a fatigue estimate. If the system determines the driver may be drowsy, it shows a warning in the Multi-function Display and sounds a signal.

 

Toyota Pre-Collision System with Driver Monitor focuses on the movement of the driver’s head. It projects the possibility of a collision based on how long the driver turns their head away from the road. First, a pre-crash warning alarm sounds; if the situation persists, the system will briefly apply the brakes.

 

Tech companies are in the game, too. DriveSafe, specifically designed for Google Glass, uses an algorithm to calculate your fatigue level based on factors such as the number of times the driver blinks and the angle of the driver’s head. DriveSafe then sounds off an alert signal to grab your attention and provides nearby location options for you to pull over.

 

Researchers in the UK are testing a sensor system built into the fabric of a car seat that monitors a driver’s heart to determine focus and alertness, and signals them to pull over if drowsiness is detected.

 

These technologies may help protect drivers and passengers, but these features are all supplemental to the driver’s own judgment. It’s up to the person behind the wheel to be responsible and not drive while tired.

When Should Seniors Stop Driving - Keeping Seniors Safe on the Road

What adult children should look for and how to help. 

When is it time for a senior parent to stop driving? It’s a question many adult children don’t want to think about, but they should.

 

In 2012, there were 3,616 fatal car crashes involving older drivers, according to the most recent data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). While the number of such annual incidents has decreased since 1997, more than five motorists 70 or older die for every 1,000 automotive accidents involving this age group, which is triple the rate of those age 35 to 54, the IIHS reports.

 

“When to stop driving is one of the most difficult conversations you can have with an older parent,” says Bill Windsor, Associate Vice President of Consumer Safety for Nationwide. “From your parents’ perspective, driving represents the gateway to their independence, a way to maintain control over their lives. But there are trouble signs that could increase the risk of a crash.”

 

Here’s a guide for adult children of seniors with respect to potential red flags, suggestions for adjustments and tips for having a difficult discussion about not driving any longer:

 

Cautionary observation. Diminished motor function, reaction times and cognitive abilities can all impact driving. Watch to see if the senior parent in question struggles to look over his or her shoulder to change lanes, or turn from left to right at intersections to check for pedestrians, suggests Helpguide.org, a site which specializes in mental health guidance and related topics.

 

“You can make assessments based upon talks with your parent’s friends, or your own observations,” Windsor says. “Are they having trouble with the basics? Are they getting lost frequently, or having near crashes?”

 

Expert opinion. Regular medical checkups are key – for vision, hearing, mental alertness and even whether the senior parent is getting enough sleep. “This checkup should include an exchange with the doctor about how your parent’s condition is impacting his or her ability to drive safely,” Windsor says, “as well as if there are any prescriptions being taken that are causing problems.”

 

Back to school. There are many ways to extend longevity for fitness for the road. Daily exercise will improve strength, flexibility, conditioning and mental focus of older drivers. “A parent can also take a defensive driving course to sharpen skills,” Windsor says. “In the process, he or she could earn a discount on insurance premiums.”

 

When it’s time to talk … Here are some takeaways from Windsor and Helpguide about how to approach an elderly parent with concerns, including the possibility of giving up the keys:

• Be respectful. You won’t get anywhere with a confrontational manner or lots of accusations. To avoid backing your parent into a defensive corner, approach him or her with empathy. “Put yourself in their shoes by understanding how trying this kind of transition can be,” Windsor says. “In a non-critical way, provide factual examples of what you and others have seen.”

 

• Enlist a detached professional party. If a driving specialist or the family doctor takes part in the conversation, the parent may respond more positively, as opposed to dismissively perceiving urgings from a family member as “nagging.”

 

• Ease in with a transition. Instead of asking a parent to go “cold turkey,” you might suggest little adjustments at first, such as not driving at night or on busy freeways.

 

• Have a plan. If you feel a parent really should stop driving, it’s best to offer alternatives for getting around so he or she won’t feel “trapped” and housebound. Options include public transportation, ride sharing, community shuttles, senior transit, taxis and walking. “Collect lots of information and come up with a viable action plan,” Windsor says.

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