4 Next-Gen Car Technologies That May Reduce Road Accidents

To say that road accidents are on the rise would be an understatement. Every year, around 43,000 deadly crashes take place in America. Among teenagers, road accidents are the leading cause of death.

This statistic does tell us that driver carelessness and distraction contribute considerably to the problem. However, it doesn’t help in light of the growing number of vehicles on the roads. Besides traffic congestion and parking issues, rising vehicle ownership leads to more accidents.

According to Statista, nearly 286 million vehicles moved across US streets in the first quarter of 2023. Even the number of licensed drivers is steadily increasing. With no respite in sight, auto manufacturers had to intervene. Naturally, they sought technological help.

Modern cars (and trucks) are being equipped with next-generation technologies that can prevent accident occurrences. Can they eradicate the problem at hand? Maybe not, but these technologies are capable of improving the statistics.

The Growing Need for Technological Interventions

Studies show that most Americans place a high value on vehicle ownership. Around 91.7% of households in 2022 had at least one personal vehicle. Those who owned two or more made up 22.1% of the total households.

This alone tells us the crisis looming on the horizon. Are people justified in owning a vehicle that facilitates better commutes? Yes, but the collective impact of it has made US roads unsafe. An accident is a costly business, not just in terms of severe physical injuries but also emotional suffering and legal battles.

Let’s understand this with the help of an example – St. Louis, Missouri, received a number one ranking for the most dangerous US city. One of the reasons cited was the rising number of road accidents. The city is a logistics hub, which means large 18-wheeler commercial trucks frequent its streets all the time.

When an accident occurs, it is often fatal or leads to severe injuries at the least. According to TorHoerman Law, these may include spinal cord or brain trauma, paraplegia, severe burns or lacerations, etc. Then, the victim and their family/friends suffer deep emotional distress.

Finally, the fight for legal justice and compensation can be intense. Without a St. Louis car accident lawyer, the plaintiff’s chances of securing a fair settlement become bleak. Attorneys aim at settling matters out of court but sometimes (with multiple liable parties), the process can be complex and long-drawn.

If some tech innovations can reduce such hassles, then why not! The number of vehicles across US roads is not decreasing anytime soon. Plus, one’s safety is (at the end of the day) in one’s own hands.

4 Technologies Designed to Reduce the Occurrence of Accidents

Now that we’ve discussed the need for next-gen car technologies that can help reduce accidents, let’s talk about some of these innovations.

Blind Spot Monitoring

This technology is a sensor-based monitoring system. The device can detect any vehicles situated on the driver’s side or the vehicle’s rear end. It is a useful technology for larger vehicles where keeping a 360-degree view of traffic becomes challenging (or impossible as in the case of commercial trucks).

In case another vehicle comes within the driver’s blind spot or there is a possibility of collision, the system will alert. Its warnings may come in audible, tactile, or visual form.

Lane Departure Technology

Driver distraction is among the leading causes of road crashes. Here’s where the importance of the lane departure warning system enters. This is also a sensor-based technology that alerts the driver when their vehicle drifts/strays from the traveling lane.

Even a momentary lapse in concentration can cause a deadly accident. The lane departure system allows the driver to take corrective action when they’ve wandered from the marked lane.

Forward Collision Systems

Driving on roads comes with its fair share of sudden jolts and jerks. This is often spontaneous but may even happen when the driver fails to maintain an adequate distance from the vehicle in front.

A forward collision warning system has a radar sensor that detects the relative speed and distance between the two vehicles (ahead). The system will warn the driver when their vehicle is about to crash with a slowly moving vehicle in front. 

Adaptive Cruise Control

This technology works in tandem with the aforementioned to prevent a collision. Adaptive cruise control is a part of an advanced driver-assistance system as it modifies the vehicle’s speed. This is done to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

For instance – The driver begins by choosing a speed to drive at. Then, the system employs its camera and radar to detect speed. In case the vehicle in front suddenly moves more slowly, the system will automatically lower the speed (below the driver’s chosen speed) to avoid a collision.

Road rage and accidents are no longer issues that the US exclusively suffers from. They are a global crisis, for which national and state governments are taking necessary actions. 

These may include reducing the number of highway lanes, setting up random driver checkpoints, introducing strict speed limits, and heavily penalizing the violators. As for auto manufacturers, they are doing their bit in supporting government actions. Now, it all boils down to drivers and pedestrians who must play their roles well.