Collision- avoidance is advanced technology available on an ever-growing range of vehicles.
Could you ever have imagined a time in your life when your car would be able to “see” other vehicles or pedestrians? This amazing technology is now readily available, and that means many new cars and trucks can now anticipate collisions, and automatically apply the brakes or take corrective steering actions!!
Some of these capabilities, such as forward-collision warning systems, have been around for a few years, mostly on high-end luxury cars. Others, like steering assist, are just getting added. We are happy to share that collision-avoidance systems are getting better and are spreading to mainstream cars.
These cutting-edge active safety systems rely on a number of sensors, cameras, lasers, and short- and long-range radar. They monitor what is going on around the vehicle—vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and even road signs—as well as the vehicle itself. Inputs are processed by computers, which then prompt some action from the car or the driver. Those actions may start with attention-grabbers, such as a beep, a flashing dashboard icon, a tug from the seatbelt, or a vibration in the seat or steering wheel. If the driver doesn’t respond, the more advanced systems then apply partial or full braking force. If a warning system emits too many inappropriate alerts, however, then there is an increasing temptation to switch it off.