A Quick Guide to Collision Warning Technology

Automobile manufacturers are constantly trying to make their vehicles safer for the public. In recent years, a whole wave of crash avoidance technology and vehicle enhancements has taken the market by storm. Most new vehicles now come equipped with systems that alert their drivers to impending accidents. The question is, how effective are they really? Accurate Auto Body is here to answer that question and give you the low down on the effect these systems are having on driver safety.

What is Collision Warning Technology?

Collision warning technology is exactly what it sounds like – when you get too close to another vehicle or object in front of you, the collision warning system will alert you so that you can avoid causing an accident. Most technology of this sort is designed to prevent front end accidents, which account for a quarter of all vehicle accidents.

Collision avoidance systems rely on radar, lasers, or cameras to detect an imminent crash. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, the technology and features can vary quite a bit. Collision warning technology usually alerts the driver using flashing lights or a beeping sound which indicates that a crash is imminent. This should not be confused with collision mitigation systems which take action for the driver, including lane departure and automatic braking.

How Reliable Is It?

Insurance companies have spent a small fortune investigating the effect collision warning technology has had on preventing accidents, and the results are relatively good. Here are some of the key findings of field testing:

• Rear-end collisions were reduced by approximately 10-15%
• Potential fatality estimates were reduced by 17% and injury estimates reduced by 21%
• Overall crash rates were reduced by 25%

The primary benefit of this technology is giving the driver a chance to react in dangerous situations when they might be distracted. Drivers have reported a high satisfaction rate with collision warning technology, with 60% reporting that the technology was easy to use and 47% considering it to be useful. Luckily, this sort of technology is starting to come standard on many new automobiles, so it doesn’t require breaking the bank to achieve a higher level of safety. Be sure to look for it next time when you are in the market for a new car.

How to Use This Information

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how safe you are in your vehicle, something still goes wrong due to the negligence of another driver. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, we are here to help. Be sure to give Accurate Auto Body a call at 303-344-2122 or contact us through our website for more information and we will be happy to get it working good as new.

Has collision warning technology helped you avoid any accidents?