Cars that are completely self-driven may still be more than a decade away, but auto manufacturers are using some of the same sensor technology to reduce accidents in current vehicles. The integration of these technologies improves safety and saves lives.

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Technology could reduce traffic fatalities


Adaptive Cruise Control

Cruise control is a convenient feature that maintains a vehicle’s speed on the highway, but too many drivers lose focus when cruise control is engaged. At highway speeds, the distracted driver does not have enough time to react to changing road conditions and avoid an accident.

Adaptive cruise control automatically adjusts the speed of a vehicle based on the distance between it and the vehicle in front. As the vehicle in front slows down, the cruise control slows the following vehicle, and when speeds return to normal, the cruise control accelerates. The most advanced systems can even stop a vehicle if the vehicle in front slows down faster than expected or hits a slow speed.

LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging)

The most common type of collisions an auto accident lawyer in Chicago handles are rear end collisions. Often the driver is distracted or moving too quickly to stop and an accident occurs.

LIDAR supplements the driver’s reactions by using safety features whenever a vehicle enters the front end sensor. Some LIDAR systems use an audible warning to bring the driver’s attention to the situation, and almost all systems precharge the brakes, an action that adds significant stopping power to the brake system. If the driver fails to heed the warning, the latest LIDAR systems brake automatically.

Lane Departure Warnings

When a vehicle departs the proper lane, the risk of serious injury or death skyrockets, and victims must turn to an auto accident attorney in Chicago to seek compensation.

Lane departure may happen for many reasons, including:

  • Drunk driving
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of control
  • Distraction

A lane departure warning system keeps track of a vehicle’s position between lane markers. If a driver begins to drift across a marker, the system issues a series of audible and physical warnings. If the behavior continues, the system can adjust the steering and speed to bring the vehicle back into position.

Human error is at the root of almost every case an auto accident lawyer in Chicago pursues. New technologies that limit the impact of driving mistakes and force drivers to pay more attention to the road will decrease both road fatalities and injuries.

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