| More and more technological advances designed | | | | screen to program or receive data. |
| to aid driving and to make driving safer can, in | | | | Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - This system, |
| some cases, have the opposite effect. | | | | which will be required standard equipment in all |
| Automobile dashboards are starting to look like | | | | new cars beginning in 2012, uses computers and |
| aircraft cockpits and, as any fighter pilot can tell | | | | independent brakes on each wheel to "steer" the |
| you, more and more instruments and displays can | | | | car to prevent a skid and, ultimately, a roll over. |
| be overwhelming; preventing the pilot from doing | | | | The drawback in this system is that drivers may |
| the basic job of actually flying the aircraft. | | | | feel they can drive faster and take more risks |
| Computerized displays in the dashboard can be | | | | because the ESC is there to keep them from |
| very distracting and some safety innovations can | | | | losing control. |
| give the driver a false sense of security leading to | | | | Adaptive headlights - These headlights pivot in the |
| more dangerous driving behaviors. A recent | | | | direction that a driver is turning allowing them to |
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | see objects around a bend sooner. The Insurance |
| (NHTSA) study conducted by Virginia Tech | | | | Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) cites studies |
| showed that 80% of vehicle collisions involved | | | | that have shown that drivers on dark curving |
| driver inattention within three seconds of the | | | | roads feel they can go faster when the road is |
| event. A car traveling at 40 mph covers almost | | | | equipped with reflectors or other road markers. |
| 60 feet per second and a driver whose attention | | | | IIHS feels that adaptive headlights may provide a |
| is diverted for just two to three seconds can | | | | false sense of security prompting some drivers to |
| cover up to 176 feet. A lot can happen in that | | | | drive even faster. |
| short span of time. | | | | Lane Departure Warning - This system can |
| In-Dash Computers - New powerful computers | | | | detect an unintentional lane departure (if the turn |
| are available that offer entertainment, GPS, and | | | | signal is not activated) and either vibrates the |
| standard computing options. They come equipped | | | | steering wheel, activates an alarm and in some |
| with wireless Bluetooth technology, touch-screen | | | | cases applies the brakes to keep the vehicle |
| controls and USB ports for adding keyboards to | | | | within the lane. This will be a terrific lifesaving |
| write emails. While they may offer some | | | | device as long as drivers don't allow it to |
| convenience, trying to read a selection menu on a | | | | substitute for a good night's sleep before hitting |
| small in-dash computer screen requires a lot of | | | | the road or feel that they can allow their eyes to |
| concentration that should be devoted to the road | | | | wander off the road for longer periods of time. |
| ahead. Another thing to remember is that, with | | | | Blind spot detectors - Mounted on the rear view |
| the exception of GPS and back-up cameras, visual | | | | mirrors, this device signals a driver either by a |
| display devices, such as a computers or video | | | | light, audible tone, or both that another vehicle is in |
| players in view of the driver is illegal in many | | | | the driver's blind spot. It is normally activated |
| states. | | | | when the driver activates a turn signal. The blind |
| GPS - This is a tremendous technological advance | | | | spot detectors are mounted on the rear view |
| for anyone who travels a lot. Anyone trying to | | | | mirrors and the IIHS feels that many drivers may |
| find their way around a strange city knows what | | | | ignore them or, in heavy traffic, shut out the |
| a terrific device it can be. However, taking your | | | | constant warnings of vehicles in the blind spot. |
| eyes off the road to read the map or to use the | | | | Technology is great but it can't make up for an |
| touch screen to punch in a destination can be | | | | irresponsible driver. These potentially life-saving |
| very distracting. Some GPS systems have an | | | | systems are only an effective back-up for those |
| interlock that prevents a driver from entering | | | | drivers who stick to the speed limit, drive safely, |
| data while the vehicle is in motion. Experts say | | | | and act responsibly. Read more Safety |
| that while all GPS devices are distracting the | | | | Alerts related to vehicle safety features and |
| safest devices are the voice activated systems | | | | technology at the National Safety Commission. |
| that don't require looking at or touching the | | | | |