Road Safety Technology 101: How Advancements Make Driving Safer
At Aschenbach Automotive Group, our passion lies in introducing the latest in life-saving automotive technologies to our customers. We believe that every driver deserves access to the latest safety innovations, whether they’re in the market for a new or used vehicle, or looking to upgrade their current ride. Our commitment to safety goes beyond just selling cars; we’re dedicated to educating our customers about these new, innovative technologies and helping them to make better-informed decisions that could potentially save lives.
Road safety technology is revolutionizing how we drive, making our roads safer for everyone. In this article, we’ll explore how these technologies are implemented in different car brands to enhance driver and pedestrian safety.
Key Takeaways
Advanced driver assistance systems featuring technologies such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and forward collision warnings are significantly reducing crash rates and improving road safety.
The Cadillac Smart System, Chevrolet Safety Assist, Ford Co-Pilot360®, GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, and Hyundai SmartSense each offer comprehensive suites of safety features including adaptive cruise control, automated braking, and enhanced vision systems.
Automakers are committed to making advanced safety technologies widespread across various models and accessible to all customers, emphasizing the importance of road safety and reducing human error in driving.
Today, we’re witnessing a revolution in automotive technology that’s making our roads safer than ever before, with auto safety at the forefront of this change.
Automatic emergency braking systems are leading this safety revolution. These ingenious devices use a combination of cameras and radar sensors to detect potential or imminent collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. When a potential crash is imminent and the driver doesn’t react in time, an automatic emergency braking system automatically applies the brakes lightly to help deter or mitigate the impact. This technology has shown remarkable results, with studies indicating at least a 20 percent reduction in crash rates for vehicles equipped with automatic emergency braking systems.
However, automatic emergency braking is merely one aspect of these advancements. Modern vehicles are enhanced with an advanced suite of safety features that work in harmony to protect occupants and other road users. Some of these features include:
Lane-keeping assistance systems that help drivers stay in their lanes
Blind spot detection that alerts drivers to vehicles they might not see
Adaptive cruise control keep the vehicle a safe distance from the vehicle ahead
These innovative technologies, also known as advanced driver assistance systems, are transforming the way we drive and significantly reducing the risk of accidents caused by human error.
What Is The Cadillac Smart System?
When it comes to luxury and safety, Cadillac has always been at the forefront of innovation. The Cadillac Smart System is a testament to this commitment, offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and safety features that elevate the driving experience to new heights. This intelligent system includes:
Adaptive Cruise Control
Lane Keep Assist
Forward Collision Alert
Automatic Emergency Braking
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Surround Vision Camera
Night Vision
Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist
Additionally, the Cadillac Smart System includes Automatic Crash Notification, which alerts emergency responders in the event of a crash, providing crucial information to help them arrive at the scene more quickly.
These safety features are designed to supply an extra layer of driver and passenger protection, reduce the likelihood of accidents, and make driving more enjoyable and less stressful.
What sets the Cadillac Smart System apart is its comprehensive approach to safety. It doesn’t just focus on collision avoidance but also includes features that enhance overall driving convenience and peace of mind. Some of these features include:
Rear Park Assist
HD Rear Vision Camera
Teen Driver Mode
Vehicle Diagnostics
Best of all, these advanced safety features come standard on all Cadillac models, regardless of trim level, making top-tier safety accessible to all Cadillac drivers.
What is Chevy Safety Assist? Behind Chevy’s Driver Assistance Tech
This comprehensive package of driver-assistance technologies comes standard on most new Chevrolet models, demonstrating the brand’s promise and commitment to making the roads and highways much safer for everyone. Chevy Safety Assist represents a significant step forward in automotive safety, leveraging the latest technology to protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike.
At the core of Chevy Safety Assist is a suite of six advanced safety and driver-assistance features. These include:
Forward Collision Alert
Automatic Emergency Braking
Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Following Distance Indicator
IntelliBeam Automatic High Beam Assist
Front Pedestrian Braking
Chevy Safety Assist also includes Electronic Stability Control, which helps maintain vehicle control and prevent accidents, especially in challenging driving conditions.
Each of these safety features plays a crucial role in preventing accidents and helping to reduce how severe a collision could potentially be.
These features work together to create a comprehensive safety net, constantly monitoring the vehicle’s surroundings and providing assistance when needed. By integrating these advanced technologies into their vehicles, Chevrolet is not just selling cars; they’re providing peace of mind and actively contributing to safer roadways.
What is Ford Co-Pilot360®? Behind Ford’s Driver Assistance Tech
Continuing our exploration of automotive safety technology, we come across Ford’s contribution, Ford Co-Pilot360®. Like its counterparts from other manufacturers, Ford Co-Pilot360® is designed to help drivers navigate the complexities of modern driving with greater confidence and security.
Ford Co-Pilot360® enhances highway safety by incorporating safety features that reduce the driver’s potential of getting into an accident and improve overall driving conditions.
Several key features that together enhance driver awareness and vehicle responsiveness form the essence of Ford Co-Pilot360®. One of the standout technologies is BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert. When reversing out of a parking space or driveway, the Cross-Traffic Alert function warns of approaching vehicles.
Another crucial component of Ford Co-Pilot360® is the Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. If the system detects potential collision could potentially be imminent and the driver doesn’t react in time, the system can automatically brake the vehicle to help avoid or reduce the severity of a frontal crash.
Yet, Ford Co-Pilot360® extends beyond just these features. It also includes features like:
Lane-Keeping System: Helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane
Adaptive Cruise Control: Keeps a set speed and distance from the vehicle ahead
Evasive Steering Assist: Helps drivers steer around obstacles in emergency situations
Auto High-Beam Headlamps: Automatically adjusts to oncoming traffic for optimal visibility without blinding other drivers
What Is The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package?
This comprehensive suite of safety features builds upon the foundation laid by the standard GMC Pro Safety Package, offering drivers an even more robust set of tools to enhance their safety on the road.
The GMC Pro Safety Package, which serves as the base for the Plus version, includes an impressive array of features designed to keep drivers alert and protected. These include:
Forward Collision Alert: Warns drivers of potential front-end collisions
Automatic Emergency Braking: Applies the brakes automatically to help avoid or mitigate a crash
Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning: Helps drivers stay in their lane
Following Distance Indicator: Displays the gap time in seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead
Front Pedestrian Braking: Detects pedestrians ahead of the vehicle and applies brakes to prevent collision
IntelliBeam Headlights: Automatically adjusts your high beams for optimal visibility without blinding other drivers
Where the GMC Pro Safety Plus Package really shines is in its additional features that take vehicle safety to the next level. The Plus package adds Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, a feature that uses radar sensors to detect when vehicles are present in your blind spots, providing an extra layer of confidence when changing lanes. Rear Cross Traffic Alert is another valuable addition, warning you of approaching traffic when you’re backing out of a parking space or driveway, which is particularly useful in busy parking lots or on streets with limited visibility.
Perhaps one of the most appreciated features in the Plus package is Rear Park Assist, which includes backup cameras. This system provides distance alerts when you’re backing up, therefore helping you avoid collisions with objects behind your vehicle
The wide availability of the GMC Pro Safety Plus Package across various GMC models is particularly noteworthy, demonstrating GMC’s commitment to making advanced safety technologies accessible to all their customers, regardless of the specific model they choose.
What Is Hyundai SmartSense?
Hyundai SmartSense is designed to provide greater protection for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, making it a standout feature in Hyundai’s vehicle lineup.
Hyundai SmartSense represents a significant advancement in automobile safety, offering a comprehensive set of features designed to protect everyone on the road.
Hyundai SmartSense is built upon a comprehensive set of safety features that work together to ensure your safety on the road. One of the key components is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. Using advanced sensors to detect potential collisions with vehicles or pedestrians ahead, the system warns the driver and applies the brakes to help the driver stop the vehicle. Working alongside this is Lane Keeping Assist, which helps prevent unintentional lane departures by gently steering the vehicle back into its lane. These features work together to address two of the most common causes of accidents: front-end collisions and lane departure incidents.
The Driver Attention Warning system monitors driving patterns and issues an alert if it detects signs of driver fatigue or inattention. This feature is particularly valuable for long journeys or night-time driving when drowsiness can be a significant risk factor. Additionally, the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist helps drivers change lanes safely by warning of vehicles in blind spots and even applying corrective steering if necessary.
Some other key features of Hyundai SmartSense include:
Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go: Keeps a set speed and distance from the front of the vehicle to the vehicle ahead, even in stop-and-go traffic
Surround View Monitor: Provides the driver a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle, making it easier to navigate tight spaces
Lane Keeping Assist: Helps to center and keep the vehicle in its lane
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist: Automatically applies the brakes in certain situations to help avoid a collision
Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Alerts the driver if there is a vehicle in their blind spot
Available on all new Hyundai models, Hyundai SmartSense demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to making advanced safety and convenience features accessible to a wide range of drivers.
Driving You Safely
From Cadillac’s comprehensive Smart System to Chevrolet’s accessible Safety Assist, Ford’s evolving Co-Pilot360®, GMC’s robust Pro Safety Plus Package, and Hyundai’s intelligent SmartSense, automakers are leveraging cutting-edge technology to create safer, more intelligent vehicles. These systems share common goals: to prevent accidents, mitigate the severity of collisions when they do occur, and enhance the overall driving experience. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, vehicles equipped with these advanced safety features have shown a significant reduction in accident rates.
Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, and Lane Keep Assist and are already proving their worth, with studies showing significant reductions in accident rates for vehicles equipped with these systems. However, it’s important to remember that while these systems are incredibly advanced, they are designed to assist, not replace, attentive driving. In addition to these advanced systems, traditional safety features like seat belts continue to play a crucial role in reducing injuries and fatalities in car accidents. By understanding and properly using these safety features, we can work in partnership with our vehicles to make the highways and roads safer for everyone — drivers, passengers, and pedestrians all included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these advanced safety features standard on all new vehicles?
Not all new vehicles come standard with advanced safety features. Availability can vary depending on the manufacturer and specific model, with some brands offering safety features in all of their vehicles or only in select models, so it's important to check the features list for the vehicle in question.
Can these safety systems fail or malfunction?
Yes, safety systems can potentially malfunction, but they undergo rigorous testing before being implemented in vehicles and are designed to assist, not replace, attentive driving. Therefore, it's important to remain vigilant while driving.
Do these safety features significantly increase the cost of a vehicle?
Yes, advanced safety features can increase the cost of a vehicle, but many automakers are now including them as standard equipment, especially on newer models. The potential safety benefits often outweigh the additional cost.
How do these safety systems perform in adverse weather conditions?
In adverse weather conditions, safety systems like cameras and sensors might be impaired by heavy rain or snow, but they are designed to alert the driver when not functioning optimally. Be cautious and attentive to the system alerts.