Although miles driven in 2020 dropped by 13 percent, the number of people who lost their lives in road accidents is 42,060, the highest in thirteen years, according to the National Safety Council. Distracted driving, overspeeding, and poorly designed roadways are some of the leading causes of road crashes in recent years. But unlike the past decades, drivers can avoid hitting pedestrians or getting into vehicle collisions by leveraging advanced technologies. Automakers worldwide are making significant strides in developing safety features that help drivers stay focused when driving. Some modern car safety systems, like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring help drivers practice safe driving. And with carmakers integrating new technologies in automobiles every day, we can expect the rate of traffic fatalities to reduce significantly. Below are a few tech innovations improving safety on roadways. 

Artificial intelligence

When artificial intelligence is integrated into automobile systems like advanced driver assist systems, it monitors and evaluates driver’s behavior to determine potential risks. AI components also detect unsafe situations like lane departure, drowsiness, and distractions when you’re driving. It then issues real-time data and notifications to warn you of possible mishaps that may result in a fatal accident. Using artificial intelligence to boost automobile safety can reduce road accidents by up to ninety per cent by 2050. Thanks to the multiple high-tech sensors AI relies upon, it can predict road safety interventions faster than the human brain. As a result, it can reduce human errors like inappropriate reactions to mishaps and poor anticipation that often cause road accidents. 

Car telematics

Car telematics combines safety, navigation, communication, and security into one tech system fitted in a vehicle’s dashboard. Common features of car telematics systems include an automatic collision alert. This feature relies on a crash-resistant modem that communicates with a call center near you to seek help in the event of an accident. Other features are roadside assistance, vehicle diagnostics, media streaming, and enhanced automatic crash notification. 

The enhanced automatic crash notification or E-ACN relies on data collected by a series of sensors in the system to assess the extent of vehicle damage and personal injuries following an accident. This feature has proven reliable when determining who’s at fault during a car accident claim. According to one Austin lawyer, it’s difficult to move on with life when your family is dealing with a severe injury after an accident. For this reason, lawyers conduct thorough investigations to determine the cause of a crash and who’s responsible. And with telematics, finding answers becomes easy hence making the claim process less stressful. 

LiDAR sensors and cameras

Currently, auto engineers are using LiDAR sensors and cameras to develop connected cars and road infrastructure. When LiDAR technology is integrated at road intersections, it helps traffic authorities detect potential collisions in real-time. As automobiles become more connected, LiDAR systems will play a critical role in warning drivers of possible crashes. The system will also provide real-time data on pedestrians crossing, vehicles and bicycles moving to promote road safety. 

Staying safe on the road while driving, walking, or cycling is everyone’s desire. And thanks to tech advancements, road users can be sure roads will be safer in the next coming years. Technologies like artificial intelligence, LiDAR, and telematics aim to provide real-time data regarding road conditions, driver behavior, and car performance to prevent potential accidents.