Everyone is familiar with standard safety features on a motor vehicle, including seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes. But modern technology has developed cutting-edge features that will make it more likely to get to where you’re going without suffering a serious accident.
Some of the newer safety features are:
Forward Collision Warning: This device uses laser, radar, and/or cameras to measure the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. If the feature determines that your vehicle is approaching the one in front too closely and too fast, it will provide a warning signal for you to apply the brakes.
Automatic Emergency Braking: This feature is similar to the Forward Collision Warning, but it also automatically applies the brakes if it determines that a collision is imminent.
Pedestrian Detection: The system uses the features of a Forward Collision Warning and/or Automatic Emergency Braking to detect a pedestrian walking into the path of your vehicle and either sounds a warning or automatically applies the brakes.
Lane Departure Warning: The feature will use cameras to detect whether your vehicle is departing from its lane without the turn signal being engaged and provide a warning.
Lane Keeping Assist: The system is similar to a Lane Departure Warning system, except it also controls the steering wheel to keep your vehicle inside your lane. You still have to keep your hands on the wheel for this feature to work.
Blind-Spot Warning: The device ascertains whether another vehicle is lurking in an adjacent lane. It warns if your vehicle is about to change lanes and collide with the other vehicle. Some versions of this feature apply the brakes and control the steering wheel to prevent a collision.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Standard cruise control keeps your vehicle moving at a constant speed without the need to apply the accelerator pedal or the brakes. The adaptive version uses lasers, radars, and/or cameras to keep a constant distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. It slows your vehicle, speeds it up, and even stops it as needed. All the driver has to do is steer and stay alert.
Backup Cameras: This feature comes standard for all model years starting in 2018. It displays a video of the area behind your vehicle, making backing out of a driveway or parking space safer.
Parking Assist System: Finally, this feature reduces the aggravation of parallel parking, using sensors to alert the driver if the front or rear bumpers are getting too close to obstacles as you maneuver into a parking space by the curb.