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The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reviewed several new in-vehicle safety technologies and rated them both for their lab performance and their real-world performance in reducing crash risk. Which of these technologies should you look for when you’re upgrading your fleet?
Adaptive Headlamps
Also called “advanced forward lighting systems,” “cornering headlights” or “steering headlights,” these headlamps are designed to respond to the driver’s steering pattern. They adjust the direction and intensity of the headlamps to provide better lighting on curves, turns, and hills. Theoretically, adaptive headlamps could affect 90% of nighttime crashes; in the real world, vehicles with adaptive headlamps result in a 5–10% drop in insurance claims.
This technology could help nighttime drivers, especially in areas with lots of curves.
Join us on Thursday, July 23, for our in-depth webinar, Safety Incentive Program Design Essentials: How to Establish a Valuable and Fully Compliant Program
Forward Collision Mitigation Systems
Also called “auto-braking” systems, this technology monitors the vehicle in front of your driver and automatically applies the brakes if the driver does not. It is one step forward, technologically, from systems that merely warn a driver of slowed or stopped traffic ahead (called “forward collision warning” systems). In real-world situations, these systems cut rear-end collisions by nearly one quarter, and overall collisions by nearly 7 percent.
This technology could help drivers who spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic and drivers who may have mild attentional problems related to age or disability.
Even though companies have used incentive programs to reduce accidents and injuries for quite some time, OSHA leaders believe there are inherent flaws in these programs. Click here to learn more!
Electronic Stability Control
The pack leader in high-tech crash prevention right now is electronic stability control, or ESC. ESC systems monitor steering and tire movement continuously; when a loss of traction or slippage is detected, the system responds. It can adjust engine power, brakes, and suspension more quickly than the driver can to retain or restore control. ESC systems have been shown to reduce overall crash risk by as much as 67% for SUVs and to prevent 62% of SUV rollovers.
This technology could help all drivers, but especially drivers of large vehicles, and drivers in wet or icy conditions.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at high-tech safety solutions for indoor traffic.