At the end of the day, every driver wants to prevent car wrecks, and car manufacturers (and other companies) are increasingly offering new technology to help achieve that.
Dash Cams
Dash cams are video cameras that film the front of your car, pointed outward to capture the driver’s perspective. Typically they either sit on the dashboard or attach to the back of the rearview mirror, hanging down from the windshield. There are many different models from hundreds of retailers, and information about the differences and similarities is plentiful online.
Although dash cams can’t do anything to prevent car wrecks, they can be very useful to protect against automotive insurance scams or staged accidents.
Text Reading Tech
Many vehicles now offer the option to read your incoming text messages or emails audibly (via Bluetooth or other means), saving you from taking your eyes off the road to check your phone.
Active Driving Aids
Active driving aids have roots in the backup cams (video that turns on when the car is in reverse) that are increasingly ubiquitous. Today’s driving aids go one step further, though, and automatically apply steering, braking or throttle to keep you in your lane or prevent you from hitting another object.
These systems include blind-spot detection/side-assist, collision warning and lane-departure warning, and when they work correctly, they can decrease the chance of accidents, injuries and deaths—especially as driver distractions only continue to increase.
WiFi Blackouts/Cell Phone Blockers
Most items that fall into this category are still in the development or testing phase, but several companies and independent inventors are working on technology that would be able to determine who is driving a vehicle, and block the text messages, calls and Internet usage of that person’s cell phone. This is part of an overall push to cut down on distracted driving, and some cell phone companies such as Sprint are even on board, allowing testing on their networks.
Black Boxes
Another interesting development in car tech: even passenger vehicles now have a “black box” (an electronic control module or “ECM”) that stores events on a computer much like the (far more complete) black boxes you hear about in plane crashes. Depending upon the model of car, that black box can store information regarding speed/velocity, seat belt usage, air bag deployment and other driver conduct in the seconds before and after a significant impact (typically about a 1g change in velocity). These black boxes are becoming increasingly important in both products liability claims against auto manufacturers and typical motor vehicle accidents. Black boxes can be accessed by some accident reconstruction experts, at significant expense, while some of these modules are proprietary and require download by an authorized manufacturer representative. Black boxes and similar computer generated data, like Qualcomm systems, are a pivotal portion of tractor-trailer wreck claims, often showing times of service, governed speed, speed violations, velocity at impact and other important warning features.
All this technology is great. However, some automobile tech, while well-intentioned, may actually be increasing the chances for car accidents. This is especially true for increased social media tech in vehicles. Many luxury brands are turning cars into mobile WiFi hotspots, so passengers can work from the road and families can stream entertainment, which is great when only the passengers take advantage of it. However, for many drivers, the temptation to check their social streams will be too strong with constant WiFi, taking their attention away from the road. Some brands are incorporating more social outlets into the digital dashboard, claiming that it is less distracting, but time will only tell if that stays true.
Of course, no new technology can replace a driver who is careful and aware while driving. If you are the victim of a car wreck due to a distracted driver or for any other reason, call Stevens & Ward as soon as you have assessed your health. We’ll help you get what you deserve.
