Most new-model vehicles come with available driver assistance features. These advanced technologies use a combination of cameras and radar to detect possible collisions and alert the driver so he or she can act. Some cars can even automatically avoid collisions if the driver does not stop or turn in time.
Review the research to find out how well driver assistance tech really works to prevent crashes.
Automatic emergency braking
This feature, which applies the brakes when the driver does not act to avoid a crash, will be standard in all new cars in 2022. Depending on your car, automatic emergency braking may work at high speeds as well as low speeds. Some systems also work in both forward and reverse.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that automatic emergency braking tech prevents about 4,000 annual crash injuries, a number that will likely increase with widespread use. The National Safety Council indicates that when combined with brake assist and forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking can reduce rear-end crashes with injuries by 56%.
Lane-keeping assistance
This technology can help you stay between the lines and provides an alert if you begin to drift out of your lane. The NSC estimates that lane-keeping assistance features can reduce injuries in head-on, side-swipe and single-vehicle crashes by 21%.
Back-up collision avoidance
These systems include rear traffic alert, reverse automatic braking and a rearview camera. This category can reduce back-up crashes by 78% according to the NSC.
When shopping for a new car, consider investing in vehicles that have the latest safety tech to reduce your accident injury risk.