Collision avoidance technology works

Automakers have come a long way since adding seat belts to vehicles. Some California enjoy the benefits of collision-avoidance systems that are preventing crashes. A researcher from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has produced a study about the effects of lane departure and blind spot warning systems. After looking at over 5,000 crashes that took place in 2015, she determined that vehicles with this warning technology experienced certain wrecks at an 11 percent lower rate than vehicles without warning systems.

Injury rates came in 21 percent lower in vehicles that warned drivers about drifting out of a lane or failing to detect an object in the blind spot. When the researcher applied to the figures to all vehicles, she found that potentially 55,000 injuries could have been prevented in 2015 if every car had warning technology.

Although effective, lane departure warning systems are present in only 6 percent of 2017 model year vehicles. Blind spot sensors are standard on only 9 percent of such vehicles. Over half of new vehicles offer some type of collision-avoidance technology as an upgrade, but it adds thousands of dollars to the price. Along with slow adoption rates among drivers, some people shut off the warning systems because of annoying beeps.

Driver negligence and inattention continue to cause accidents that injure and kill people. A person harmed by a drunk or distracted driver could consult a Northridge, California, auto accident attorney about how to recover damages. An attorney could gather evidence from a police report, witness testimony and an accident reconstruction specialist to justify a claim for compensation.