Automotive Safety Innovations For Teenagers & New Drivers: The Top Ten

ACC: Adaptive Cruise Control

The safest vehicles are cars, trucks, or SUVs with the very best technology. Among the most advanced safety systems offered is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). ACC uses cutting-edge radar sensors that keep your vehicle at a risk-free distance from vehicles in front of you and your loved ones. Here’s how this feature works:

• The driver establishes the cruise control maximum speed.
• The ACC radar system keeps pace with the vehicles in front of you.
• When sensing an imminent accident, the ACC will utilize the vehicle’s AEB system (see the next safety innovation) to slow down or stop the vehicle.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

Driving while distracted is a more prominent problem today. This is largely due to personal device usage while driving, particularly with new drivers. AEB systems are designed to prevent an accident before it occurs. In the event of an unavoidable collision, the AEB system will:

• Alert the driver with an audible alarm – some systems will also use vibrating steering wheels and seats, as well.
• If the driver doesn’t engage the brake promptly enough to avoid an accident, the AEB system will engage the brakes automatically to help prevent or minimize the extent of a forward collision.
• In the event the driver needs additional stopping assistance, the following safety option kicks in.

Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)/Crash Imminent Braking (CIB)

Many more vehicle manufacturers are including extra automatic braking systems to assist drivers in preventing or drastically minimizing the seriousness of an accident. The inclusion of a CIB/DBS system helps the driver by:

• Automatically applying brake pressure should the car senses the driver’s braking pressure is inadequate to stop the vehicle before a collision.
• In the event that the driver fails to apply the brakes at all, the CIB system will automatically use the brakes to minimize the damages or prevent of a collision.

Adaptive Headlights

With these amazing head lights, dark corners on poorly lit roads are a thing of the past. Connected to the steering system, the headlights turn in the same direction the steering wheel is turning in order to light up the area the car, truck, or SUV is turning into. This feature is particularly helpful in rural areas with minimal or no outside lighting.

Forward Collision Warning

Thanks to this safety advancement, distracted driving is becoming much less of an issue. Cameras, radar, and even lasers are masterfully used to alert drivers when obstacles in front of them are getting too close to the front of your car. Throw in an automatic emergency braking system and you can relax when your teenage driver is on the roadway.

Blind Spot Detection

Speaking of keeping your eyes on the road, that pesky blind spot has finally been removed thanks to this safety innovation. Lasers and\or cameras keep an eye out in areas on your car, truck, or SUV that most drivers are notable to. A caution alert ensures you are aware of another vehicle’s presence before you move into their lane.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)/Lane Keeping System (LKS)

Even more great news for distracted drivers. Cameras and lasers are also made use of to track the lane markings on the typical highway. When the system detects the car has started moving out of its lane, it will notify the driver with alarms and lights, a vibrating seat, and even a vibrating steering wheel.

Rear-View Camera

This feature is often confused with back-up cameras; but the distinction between these 2 remarkable advancements is stark. While back-up cameras typically have a limited field of vision, rear view cameras usually make use of wide-angle lenses to provide the driver a much wider view of what or who is behind them.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

As the name indicates, your car’s TPMS sensors keep track of the air pressure in all4 tires and notifies the driver with dashboard lights and even an alarm if the tire pressure reach critical levels.

Facial Recognition Software

Finally, we have one of the latest innovations to our vehicle safety suites. Thanks to advancements in face recognition technology, vehicles are beginning to include this tech to keep track of driver awareness. Once calibrated to the driver’s unique features, the software can identify slight alterations in driver attention levels. The software will then inform the driver with alarms and dashboard lights. This being a new innovation, drivers can anticipate advanced signaling measures like vibrating seats and steering wheels.