Posted on June 27th, 2016

MyCarDoesWhat Celebrates Safe Driving During National Safety Month

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As the summer heats up, more and more people are choosing to get out and drive, bike, and walk around town. As drivers, we have a responsibility to not only protect those inside of our cars, but also pedestrians outside of them and anyone on the road. Sharing the road safely is key to a safer future.

This month, the National Safety Council kicked off National Safety Month – an entire month dedicated to educating the public about ways to live a safer life. This week’s theme is sharing the roads safely. From NSC’s preliminary estimates, motor vehicle deaths increased in 2015 by eight percent from 2014. Sharing the road safely is crucial to reversing this trend.

Whether you’re driving your daily commute, cruising around town or departing on a long road-trip, remember some of the key auto safety technologies that can help keep you, your passengers and other roadway users safe.

Morning Commute

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We’ve all been there – the morning rush-hour commute. Aggressive drivers weave in and out of lanes in an attempt to shave a few seconds off their drive. Technologies like blind spot monitors can provide extra help (or ‘an extra set of eyes’) in alerting you to any unseen or unexpected cars in your blind spots.

Additionally, sideview cameras can offer an expanded view of the lane beside your car. The camera gives you a live view of what is happening around your car so that you can be more aware of any approaching cyclists or pedestrians on the right.

Summer Drive

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A summer evening drive is a great way to get out of the house. Unfortunately, many roads often lack adequate lighting. New adaptive headlights can help you stay aware of what might be ahead of you on a curve as they move side to side with the turns of the steering wheel.

Obstacle detection or “forward collision warning” is another great feature for leisurely drives. This tool can detect slow-moving or stationary objects to provide warnings or even apply the brakes.

Vacation Road Trip

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With gas prices lower than previous summers, more vacationers are choosing to drive to their summer destinations. As the highway becomes more congested, technologies like adaptive cruise control are essential. Adaptive cruise control not only maintains your set speed, but also slows down and speeds up to keep a set following distance between you and the car ahead.

One of the common occurrences during high-traffic seasons on the highway or interstate is bottle-necking, which can lead to crashes if a driver is unaware that the cars ahead are slowing or stopping. Forward collision warning can alert you of impending collisions with the car ahead to give you time to brake or swerve, as necessary.

Finally, technologies like back-up cameras can prove very helpful in gaining a better sense of your immediate surroundings. This technology helps you see objects directly behind you while backing – providing you with an “extra set of eyes,” even at night!

No matter the drive, no matter the destination, sharing the road safely is key. To learn more about the National Safety Council’s National Safety Month, visit their website here: http://www.nsc.org/act/events/Pages/national-safety-month.aspx