More and more adults admit to distracted driving every day, and the things that distract them vary. In fact, there are a few different types of distracted driving—manual, cognitive, and visual.
It can range from sticking your hands into a bag of fries, turning to check the baby’s seat belt, or texting and driving. Either way, all of these are distractions that put you, and other drivers, in harm’s way.
To keep roads safer, automotive manufacturers are starting to offer car technology to reduce distracted driving. Though these can’t make you a more attentive driver, they can help protect you if you’re distracted.
Crash Avoidance Systems
Probably the most important advancement in car technology to reduce distracted driving is that of crash avoidance systems.
It’s a scary moment when you have to slam on your breaks to avoid hitting another vehicle. It’s even scarier when you’re not paying attention and look up to realize you’re on the cusp of an accident.
Crash avoidance systems were created as accident mitigation. Cars with these features have autonomous braking monitors in front of the vehicle to notify drivers of danger ahead. This can include other vehicles, pedestrians, and even animals!
These systems will automatically brake to help you avoid this fear and the cusp of crashes altogether.
Lane Departure Warnings
Texting and driving, soothing a fussy baby, or quieting arguing children are the sort of distractions that get people swerving in their lanes. If you’re not paying attention and start to float over a road marker without signaling, then this system will notify you before things get dangerous.
Swerving may not always result in crashes, but it does result in unsafe driving conditions for yourself and others.
Some of the alerts will have a warning tone where others will have a vibration in the steering wheel or seat. They’re meant to draw your attention to the task at hand—staying in your lane.
Drowsy Driver Detectors
Driving late at night or early in the morning often brings about quite a few drowsy drivers. Commutes make early mornings a hazardous place—and, yes, drowsy driving is still considered distracted and reckless driving.
other valuable tips:
Though you may not be able to change your schedule so you have more time to sleep, you can get a car that offers monitoring systems to alert you if you’re falling asleep.
Similar to the lane departure warning alerts, these detectors will send both audible and sensory warnings. You could hear a chime, there could be a slight tap on the brakes or tug on the shoulder belt. It’s better to pull to the side and take a break than it is to continue driving distractedly.
These advancements, paired with other technology features like hands-free connectivity and voice controls, make the roads a safer place.
That said, you should never rely on these things to keep you safe—it’s better to quit the distracted driving yourself and have the tech as your safety net. The sooner we learn to drive smart and not drive distracted, the safer we’ll all be.
Image Credit: distracted driving by Pixabay
end of post … please share it!
GUIDE: about auto loans
end of post idea for home improvement
view and analyze home improvement ideas at our LetsRenovate center
Helpful article? Leave us a quick comment below.
And please give this article a rating and/or share it within your social networks.
