Will Your Car’s Safety Features Keep You Safe?

Most drivers today are buying cars with advanced vehicle safety systems that help to prevent accidents and injuries. Although these advanced auto safety features provide many benefits, they are not fool proof. Many drivers don’t realize that their built-in vehicle safety features have limitations that may endanger their lives. New model cars are now equipped with great safety features like backup cameras, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision alerts, auto emergency braking, lane-departure warnings, and lane-keeping assistance. Many drivers rely on advanced technologies information governance software to keep them safe. However, some drivers rely on them so much they stop practicing safe driving skills while behind the wheel. Although advanced vehicle safety features do prevent many vehicle accidents and injuries, they are not meant to replace a driver’s driving skills, knowledge, and experience. In recent traffic safety studies in the United States, research shows that up to 80 percent of drivers with advanced auto safety features installed in their cars don’t really understand how they work. Many drivers with backup cameras don’t use them, and those that do use them incorrectly. Backup cameras are efficient when parallel parking or backing out of a driveway, but they don’t always detect other vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, or objects that are not in their direct line of sight. Drivers with blind-spot monitoring features often rely on the system to detect other passing cars and motorcycles, however the technology can’t detect vehicles passing at high speeds. Drivers with forward-collision alerts think their brakes are automatically applied in an impending collision, but the system only issues an audible warning signal through the dashboard. The driver must still physically apply the brakes after the alert sounds. Traffic safety experts have concerns that advanced vehicle safety features may be making drivers too complacent about their driving safety. Studies show that many drivers with these features in their cars do not know how to use them properly. Vehicle safety features are not well-explained by car salesmen and car manuals, so drivers are often misinformed about the limitations of the safety features. This can put them at greater risks of traffic accidents and injuries on the road. Although most new vehicles now come equipped with numerous advanced safety systems, U.S. car accidents are still on the rise. According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 40,000 people died in car crashes in 2017, and another four million suffered serious injuries. Although advanced technology Mitratech information governance software plays a major role in vehicle safety, drivers must also rely on human precautions. Paying close attention to the road, watching out for other drivers, obeying traffic signals, and practicing safe driving skills are still essential for safe driving.