Modern cars are equipped with advanced technology that is designed to improve safety. Accident avoidance is an important part of any safety system in a vehicle. Traditionally, a driver has relied on his senses in order to make split second decisions to avoid accident. However, one’s judgment may not always be 100 percent accurate. Therefore, accidents can still occur even when careful drivers are involved. For instance, there are multiple blind spots in the exterior side mirrors of a car. A driver must fully turn the head to look over the shoulder and check the blind spots.
With modern digital technology, car safety is improved thanks to some “extra” senses. Simple radar or sonar technology is used to detect the movement of vehicles nearby. When lane changes are made, automatic alerts are made to notify drivers about potentially dangerous situations. Similarly, sensors scan for any moving vehicles when a car backs up or pulls out of a parking lot. There are backup sensors that only provide audio alerts.
The most advanced backup safety systems feature cameras that provide wide angle views of everything in the rear of a vehicle. The recordings are usually displayed on the screen that’s part of a GPS navigation system in the central console. Sometimes, videos from backup cameras can be displayed in the rear view mirror. Drivers can also find backup cameras for trucks that have some serious blind zones. Freight trucks must take advantage of any sensors that can improve safety near docks and warehouses where packages are loaded and unloaded.
An auto dimming mirror can also improve the overall safety of a car. Such a mirror automatically adjusts to the ambient lighting. As darkness settles in, automatic dimming effects occur as a result of a special optical coating. With auto dimming, there is no need to adjust the position of a rear view mirror in different lighting conditions.
Hands free phone calls can also improve the safety of drivers. It’s a good idea to install Bluetooth technology into a car that’s compatible with such technology. A phone call can be answered or made while keeping the hands on the steering wheel. Additionally, voice commands may be used to remotely control a cell phone. Voice commands are also integrated into most modern navigation systems that provide turn by turn directions. Live radio traffic and weather updates can also improve road safety and overall convenience.
