Between 20 and 50 million people across the globe have non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result. It is, however, hardly surprising to learn that most road accidents can be prevented. Some of the most common causes of accidents are speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or substances, and distracted driving. Despite knowing these facts, drivers often fall prey to the temptation of indulging in less-than-responsible behaviors. Luckily, technological innovations have greatly reduced the likelihood of road accidents, often by controlling, as it were, the way in which we use the roads. The following are just a few new developments to watch out for.
Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning
Imagine if pedestrians knew, in advance, if a car was going to stop for them or not. Drive.ai is making it possible with a system made up of four LED screens (which go on a vehicle’s hood, front tires, and back) that display messages to pedestrians. These messages indicate whether or not the driver is stopping or going ahead so that pedestrians can take precautions, even when they have the right of way.
Personalized Infotainment
People have grown accustomed to enjoying a wide array of music and navigation features in their cars, but doing so essentially takes their eyes off the road. As stated by the Johnson Garcia legal firm, distracted driving causes about 3,000 deaths per year. Fiddling with a stereo or infotainment system creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries, since obstacles can appear on the road in just a couple of seconds, or a vehicle ahead can come to a sudden stop.
High-end brands like Mercedes-Benz are leading the way via personalized infotainment systems that cater content to your tastes so you don’t have to use your screen for very long to find what you are looking for. The Mercedes-Benz MBUX system, meanwhile, allows you to perform actions such as accepting a telephone call by simply giving the vehicle a voice command.
Smart Tire Pressure Monitors
A tire blowout can completely throw a car off balance and cause a major highway accident, which is why ensuring your tires contain the right amount of pressure, is vital. New smart tire pressure monitors use Bluetooth technology to gauge pressure in real time. Many are also able to detect issues such as tears and air leaks. They send this information directly to your smartphone, so you can check the integrity of your tires regardless of where you are.
Smart Road Technology
Smart roads are still a thing of the future, but private companies and governments across the globe are already working on integrating some of this technology into existing highways and major roads. Just a few examples of smart road tech advances include the use of speed cameras to provide warning signs for hazardous conditions, IoT connectivity between roads and IoT devices, and traffic light optimization (which uses data from CCTV cameras or smart vehicles to optimize traffic lights and update people on upcoming bottlenecks in traffic). Over the next few years, drivers will be able to avail of features like glow in the dark roads, solar-powered roadways (that charge electric vehicles while they are driving), and interactive lights (which illuminate the road as cars approach).
Millions of injuries occur across the globe as a result of irresponsible driving. Road safety tech has come a long way in terms of rescuing drivers from the actions of others. Top tech to consider when buying a new vehicle includes AI, personalized infotainment, and smart tire pressure monitors. Soon, all drivers will also be protected by safety features located on roads themselves.
