How Automation is Changing Car Safety

As technology becomes more prevalent in our vehicle functions, new questions regarding auto safety arise. How can we trust computers to regulate our vehicles? Is having less human control over driving safe? We do not have definite answers to these questions yet. However, human designed vehicles always have the potential to be unsafe, regardless of what technology is integrated into the vehicle.

New Technologies That Are Changing Car Safety

• Autonomous vehicles: Much press has been made about self-driving cars, which have become a hot topic of debate due to safety concerns. However, this technology is new, and safety features are likely to improve. The vast majority of car accidents, including ones with self-driving cars, are caused by human errors. Speeding, driving while intoxicated, and distracted driving account for most fatal car accidents. Many vehicles are equipped with self-steering features and electronic stability control, which senses loss of traction on the road and attempts to correct the issue. A study completed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, concluded that newer vehicles that have more autonomous electronic safety features decrease the risk of dying in a crash by almost one-third.
• Driver assistance: These features are becoming more popular, offering parking with rear-view camera assistance, different driving modes for weather and road conditions, blind-spot monitoring devices, and collision control systems. When the car senses that a threat of a collision is eminent, brake-systems work to stop the vehicle automatically on behalf of the driver to avoid an accident in some cases.
• Multiple vehicle automation: The U.S. Department of Transportation has discussed a rule that would require manufacturers to include “vehicle-to-vehicle” automation, allowing vehicles to “talk” to each other, making it easier to avoid accidents. The complexity of the legal framework in the U.S. makes these rules hard to achieve.

New Liability Issues Arise

These new technologies bring more liability upon the manufacturers of these new ideas. Car manufacturers can be responsible for defective parts and vehicle malfunctions, and laws regulating liability for defective software components that lead to accidents will follow suit.These new innovative technologies receive a lot of backlash from those who think that computers should not be making driving decisions on our behalf. However, evidence shows that preventable human errors on the road are responsible for almost all accidents.If you or someone you know was in an auto accident due to the negligence of an auto manufacturer, or another driver, contacting a Lufkin auto accident attorney can help you get the coverage you deserve. In many cases, an attorney can get more coverage than an insurance company is willing to offer.