Smart Cars Can Protect Drivers by Predicting Emergencies
Posted by: Jason Lancaster in Finance, tags: FinanceVehicle safety is a puzzling issue for automakers. Despite improvements in vehicle safety measures, vehicle-related fatalities in the U.S. have stayed the same over the years, with about 40 000 deaths a year. Why are fatalities continuing at the same level despite technology which makes cars safer? One suggestion is that it’s not unsafe cars that are responsible for these deaths - it’s the unsafe drivers behind the wheel.
Robert Bosch LLC has come out with new research that found two out of three drivers don’t hit the brakes with enough force just before an accident. This isn’t because the driver wants the accident - it’s because the overload of information and stimuli, from multiple warning systems, distracting passengers, and the mental load of processing events on the road, all compete for mental resources, and slow down the decision-making process by a few vital milliseconds. The result is the driver hitting the brakes just a moment too late, or not quite hard enough.
The solution, according to Bosch, is a predictive brake-assist technology that will detect an anticipated accident and react by activating the brakes. The system will continuously monitor the surroundings on the road to determine stopping distance. With these calculations constantly running in the car’s computer, the hydraulic brake is properly engaged for full-force braking once an impact is evident.
There are over two-million front-end collisions each year, and while there is no way to know how much the predictive brake-assist system will reduce this number, it’s reasonable to assume it will help in some way. However, there is some argument that this technology will actually hurt safety. The argument is that because drivers will not understand the technology, they will assume the car will do the majority of the braking for them, and will not attempt to stop the car themselves. This argument seems absurd, but should not be discounted completely. More testing should be completed before this type of safety feature is mandated.
Manufacturers are already beginning to develop predictive braking technology into their new vehicles. Some, such as Cadillac, Volvo, Toyota and BMW, are currently experimenting with the technology. Others have implemented the system into their new models. Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 can detect an emergency by sensing the amount of pressure the driver applies to the brake pedal, and reacts by implementing the maximum power boost.
Predictive brake-assist technology is just one of many new technologies aimed at improving automotive safety. A lane departure notification is another new development which will protect drivers. It uses an electric eye to monitor the vehicle’s position in relation to the lines on the road. If the vehicle starts driving outside the lines, the system will release an audible warning, which could greatly benefit drivers who may be falling asleep during long drives.
In accordance with the theory that drivers may in fact pose a safety hazard to themselves, Bosch has proposed a modification to the current vehicle safety ratings. The proposed new safety ratings would include a sixth star, evaluating a vehicle’s accident avoidance systems, such as the predictive braking and lane departure notification systems. This will help consumers to compare just how safe a vehicle really is, taking into consideration how it will help them avoid accidents, not just how the car will hold up in one.
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