Safety Devices Your Car Should Have To Prevent Major Road Accidents
Many of us take road safety for granted, but with so many accidents happening on global roads every year, it is vital that we take it seriously. Fortunately, car manufacturers are always trying to develop new safety features which can make their vehicles more safe and secure. Just a few years ago, most cars only had airbags and seatbelts in terms of safety features, but there are far more gadgets these days. There are many issues which can occur on the road, from careless drivers to dangerous roads, so anything which can reduce the risk of an accident is always very useful.
To help all the drivers out there stay safe on the road, here are the safety devices your car should have to prevent major road accidents.
1. Lane Departure Warning
Staying alert and always being aware of danger is sensible driving behavior, and always staying in your lane is one very important safety precaution. To stop dangerous lane changing, lane departure warning will alert you if at any time you start to move into another lane without signaling to the other road users. Lane departure warning works by monitoring the road markings and checking when you cross them. The most advanced lane departure warning systems will actually self-correct the car by braking or steering you back into your lane.
2. A Fatigue Detection System
It is not common to feel tired on long drives, but it is very dangerous to fall asleep at the wheel. Long distance truck drivers or tractor-trailer operators often have to drive very long distances and you can read more about the damage which can be caused if they fall asleep on the road. If you are often tired when driving or have to complete regular long journeys, a fatigue detection system can be very useful as it produces a loud sound to wake you up if it detects any of the signs that you have fallen asleep. This may include reckless steering or sudden slowing down. There are various car companies which now provide fatigue detection as standard in their cars.
3. An Intelligent Speed Assistance System
Intelligent Speed Assistance Systems make sure that your vehicle doesn’t go over the speed limit of the road. As speeding is one of the most common causes of road accidents, this is very important. The system tracks your car via GPS, and so is able to check that you are not going too fast. If you do exceed the speed limit, the system will give you a warning so that you slow down. Some systems will even slow the vehicle automatically by reducing the fuel output. Many parents like this system for their children’s first cars as it ensures they won’t speed.
4. External Vehicle Body Airbags
Whilst previously airbags were only used inside the vehicle to protect the driver and passengers, now they are also used on the outside to reduce the impact of a collision. Not only will this help to protect the vehicle from damage in the crash, it will also reduce the risk to people inside the car, and to whatever or whoever the car has hit. There are various different versions of external airbag systems but the most sophisticated use sensors to detect a collision and deploy the airbags at that part of the vehicle.
5. A Collision Warning System
By anticipating a collision, this system helps to reduce the impact of the crash or can even help to prevent it altogether. Collision warning systems are very helpful when you need to park in a very busy parking lot where all of the vehicles are squeezed together. This system uses radar to map out all the objects around your car and give you an accurate picture of what is there and how much space you have at all times.
6. A Blind-Spot Monitoring System
All vehicles have blind spots, but big vehicles in particular can have really big ones which seriously impede the driver’s visibility. Blind-spot monitoring systems are designed to overcome this by giving the driver a better view of everything around them. The system is designed around an ultrasonic sensor on the back of the vehicle, which gives data to the driver about any vehicles behind them.
Whilst these safety devices can make a big difference in preventing an accident, following good driving practices is the most important thing. There is always the possibility of an accident, and the chances are multiplied if you drive dangerously. It is vital that you always follow road laws and stay aware of other road users at all times. After that, adding one or more of these safety devices to your vehicle will help to keep you and your passengers safe.
Image by Valter Cirillo from Pixabay