Driver Assistance Systems the Clear Winner in Road Safety
There’s a lot of talk in the news and especially in the car industry about self-driving vehicles. Many people believe that they will completely eliminate accidents caused by human error—but the real winner appears to be driver assistance systems, which rely on the skills that only humans can bring to the table while tapping into what technology has to offer. At DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP, we appreciate seeing how technology can make life easier and keep the roads safe. We’re here to help car accident victims like you seek the compensation they deserve. Call our car accident attorneys in Southern California at 855-WINNING (946-6464) to set up a consultation now.
When a car accident throws your life into disarray, having the right Southern California legal team can make a big difference. The car accident attorneys at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP have a long list of court awards and successful settlements. Over 95% of our cases are referred by other professionals within the legal industry, highlighting the level of trust we’ve developed in our area of practice. Learn more about what our car accident law firm has to offer and keep reading to find out how driver assistance systems have changed the landscape of driving.
What Are Driver Assistance Systems?
Driver assistance systems include a variety of technological features that aim to reduce a driver’s mental workload while driving and help curb the occurrence of common human mistakes. Common tools and features found in driver assistance systems include:
- Lane departure warnings: Lane departure warning systems track road markings to ensure that you are staying in your lane and they sound an alarm if you begin to drift.
- Traffic sign recognition: This technology can help you speed limit signs, stop signs, and yield signs early, allowing you to make safer driving choices.
- Blind spot tracking: This feature notifies you, either via light, sound, or both, when there is a vehicle in your blind spot. It generally sounds an alarm when you turn on your turn signal but there is a driver on that side in your blind spot.
- Emergency braking: Emergency braking turns on when your car’s cameras sense an obstacle immediately in front of your car. It essentially overrides your driving for a brief moment to stop an imminent crash.
- Backup camera: Backup cameras are one of the earliest forms of adaptive driving, and they have saved countless lives.
- Automatic lights: Automatic lights ensure that you don’t have to rely on your own memory to have a well-lit drive at night or when there’s inclement weather.
The Statistics Show That DAS Improve Outcomes
Experts in the field of vehicle safety and many car accident lawyers indicate that driver assistance systems are the solution to poor road safety outcomes. For example, automatic emergency braking was found to reduce rear-end crashes by a staggering 50%. Overall, research shows that vehicles equipped with DAS have lower accident occurrence rates than vehicles without those features.
Costs Associated With Driver Assistance Systems
One of the main drawbacks of driver assistance systems is the cost. Not only are vehicles with driver assistance technology more expensive to purchase, they are more costly to repair. This may push drivers away from vehicles with more advanced safety features. However, this problem is likely to resolve itself—as new features become more and more commonplace, the market naturally drives the prices down, making the features themselves standard in personal vehicles. Furthermore, there are federal efforts to require certain assistance features in passenger vehicles in coming years.
Avoiding the Dangers of False Security
A key benefit of driver assistance systems is that they still rely on human judgment and decision-making skills, which are key in heavy traffic or inclement weather—the situations in which self-driving vehicles tend to fall short. Those who laud autonomous vehicles as the only way to safe roadways forget that this technology can also create a sense of false security. Drivers in autonomous vehicles often check out visually and mentally, so when something does go wrong, they are unable to react in time to avoid a crash. Driver assistance systems still require drivers to pay attention and be ready to step in should a safety feature fail, and in fact, many of them have alarms that go off if they detect that your hands are not on the wheel or that your eyes are averted down.
Contact DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP for Help With Your Claim
If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision, it’s time to talk to a car accident lawyer. Let us fight for you while you recover. Call DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP online or call our car accident law firm at 855-WINNING (946-6464) to set up a consultation right away.
Mark Algorri has successfully represented individuals and their families in matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, insurance claims denials, and wrongful deaths, achieving a success rate of 99 percent for our clients.
