Posted on April 1st, 2016
Safety Tech Madness!
Here we are: the final round of March Madness 2016. The pressure is on. The stakes are high. The crowd goes wild!
For auto safety technologies, that is. This past year in auto safety technology has proven to be one of the most impressive in recent history. From automatic emergency braking to back-up cameras, we’ve seen the auto industry grow by leaps and bounds. Let’s take a look at this year’s final four:
Matchup 1: Back-up Camera vs. Blind Spot Monitor
Is there something lurking in one of your blind spots – on the sides or to the rear? Both of these features help you know when this is the case in their own unique way.
Back-up cameras drive the game with strategy and preparation. This feature displays a view of what is directly behind the car before backing up. A fan favorite of the safety tech division, back-up cameras have been shown to be more effective than simple sensor-based systems that beep when an object is detected.
Blind spot monitors excel in their ability to adapt to changing situations. This technology warns you of cars or objects in your blind spots. They may provide an additional warning if you use your turn signal when there is a car next to you in another lane. Blind spot monitors are one of the top features to watch in coming seasons.
Matchup 2: Lane Departure Warning vs. Automatic Emergency Braking
The best offense is a good defense – that’s the motto behind both of these features. This matchup is all about reactive technologies – safety features that warn, alert or even brake your car when they sense danger.
Lane departure warning is a true contender in the auto safety technology space. Lane departure warning systems alert you if you drift out of your lane using visual, vibration or sound warnings. This feature has demonstrated some of the best defensive capabilities of the season.
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) is the true Cinderella story of the season. This feature took the car safety world by storm when NHTSA announced it will add automatic emergency braking to its 5-Star Rating System beginning with model year 2018. Just a few months later, automatic emergency braking made headline news again when NHTSA and 20 automakers made the commitment to standardize AEB in most new vehicles by 2022. This feature uses radar, camera sensors or both to detect when you’re within moments of a frontal crash. If you haven’t taken action in time, AEB will apply the brakes very intensely for you.
What is your favorite car safety technology? What are your final four feature picks? Tweet us with #MyCarDoesWhat to let us know!