What You Need to Know About Car Safety Features
If you have been car shopping recently, you may have been overwhelmed with the array of options. Car shopping is more than just color, make, and model. It’s about safety features. In the past 10 years, car safety technology has dramatically evolved. Here we will review the timeline of car safety features and how technology is evolving to keep you safe on the road.
Car accidents are commonplace and safety technology cannot prevent every accident. Have you been injured in an accident that was not your fault? If the accident occurred in Nevada, contact an experienced Nevada car accident lawyer. The team at Anthem Injury Lawyers has experience handling all types of car accidents. This includes accidents involving motorcyclists, bicyclists, and drivers under the influence. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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Vehicle Safety Features Timeline
We take many vehicle safety features for granted. However, car safety feature technology has evolved over time. Below is a timeline of vehicle safety features. The dates on the list are an estimate of when each feature was introduced for vehicles. The timeline is not necessarily when each was invented.
- 1948 – Cruise Control
- 1954 – Automatic Emergency Braking
- 1956 – Rearview Video Systems
- 1959 – Seat Belts
- 1971 – Airbags
- 1978 – Anti Lock Brakes
- 1990 – Adaptive Cruise Control
- 1992 – Lane Departure Warning
- 1995 – Electronic Stability Control
- 1995 – Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking
- 2007 – Blind Spot Detection
- 2003 – Forward Collision Warning
- 2003 – Lane Keeping Assist
- 2006 – Self-park
- 2011 – Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- 2014 – Traffic Jam Assist
- 2018 – Lane Centering Assist
Standard Car Safety Features
As safety features have evolved over time, some have become standard in vehicles. These safety features can help reduce injuries and even save lives in an accident. Below are some standard vehicle safety features:
- Front Airbags
- Electronic Stability Control
- Safety Belts
- LATCH Child Safety Seat System
Car safety features are evolving as technology develops. However, even the safest driver can be involved in an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the Clark County area, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers have experienced personal injury lawyers who are ready to help you. We have represented clients just like you and won their cases so they could receive maximum compensation for their car accident injuries. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
New Safety Features
The availability of new safety features can be overwhelming. It seems like every new vehicle comes with a new option. So what does it all mean? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration put together the following information explaining new technologies and their functions.
Forward Collision Prevention
There are new systems to assist in forward collision prevention. A forward collision is when the front of a vehicle crashes into the rear of a slower moving or stopped vehicle.
Forward Collision Warning
A forward collision warning system monitors:
- a vehicle’s speed,
- the speed of the vehicle in front of it,
- and the distance between the vehicles.
If vehicles get too close, the system warns the driver of an impending crash. The system does not take control of the vehicle.
Automatic Emergency Braking
An automatic emergency braking system detects an impending forward crash with another vehicle. The system alerts the driver to provide time to avoid or mitigate the crash. If the driver does not adequately respond the system may automatically apply the brakes.
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking
A pedestrian emergency braking system detects a pedestrian crossing in front of the vehicle. It automatically applies brakes if necessary.
Backing Up and Parking
Backing up and parking may not be the most dangerous activities on the road but backing up and parking can still cause accidents. Below are some safety features to help with backing up and parking.
Rear Automatic Braking
When the car is in reverse, rear automatic braking detects a potential rear collision. If a crash is imminent, the system automatically engages the brakes.
Rearview Video System or Backup Camera
A rearview video system or backup camera allows the driver to clearly see behind the vehicle.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
When the car is in reverse, the rear cross traffic alert notifies drivers of potential dangers outside the view of the backup camera.
Lane and Side Assist
Driving can be a hazardous activity. Lane and side assist technology help drivers stay in their lanes and safely navigate the road.
Lane Departure Warning
A lane departure warning system alerts drivers when they unintentionally drift out of their lanes without a turn signal. The system does not take control of the vehicle.
Lane Keeping Assist
Lane keeping assist uses the sensor information from the lane departure warning system. If a vehicle is going to move outside its lane, the system returns the vehicle to its intended lane of travel. The system assists by correcting the steering, braking, or accelerating the wheels.
Blind Spot Detection
Blind spot detection warns the driver of a vehicle in their blind spot.
Lane Centering Assist
Lane centering assist provides steering to keep a vehicle centered in its lane.
Maintaining Safe Distance
Maintaining safe distance is key to safe driving. New technologies help drivers keep their distance on the road.
Traffic Jam Assist
Traffic jam assist helps to adjust the vehicle’s speed to the speed of the vehicle ahead. It automatically accelerates and brakes the vehicle with the flow of traffic and keeps the vehicle between lane markings.
Highway Pilot
Highway pilot maintains the vehicle’s lane position and following distance. It does so by automatically braking and accelerating as needed.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead.
New technology and car safety features can prevent some but not all accidents. If you are injured in an accident that is not your fault, work with an experienced car accident lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers have experienced car accident lawyers who are ready to help you. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.If your injuries make it impossible for you to visit our Las Vegas area law offices, don’t worry. We can come to you to provide your free consultation.
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Top Five Safe Driving Tips
Drivers don’t have to have the newest safety features to make safe driving choices. There are many steps drivers can take to stay safe on the road. Below are our top five safe driving tips.
- Wear a safety belt. In Nevada, all passengers must wear safety belts or ride in an approved child restraint system. An unbuckled motorist is 75 percent more likely to be killed in a crash.
- Never drive impaired. Imapaired driving is the number one cause of motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Every two minutes someone is injured in a drunk driving crash.
- Do not speed. Speeding accounts for one-third of all traffic deaths in Nevada.
- Always STOP on red. In 2018, 846 people were killed in crashes that involved red light running.
- Focus on driving. Distracted driving causes accidents. In 2017, distracted-related driving killed 3,166 people. Remember, in Nevada it is illegal to physically handle a cell phone or electronic device while driving.
An accident can injure even the safest driver. If you are the victim in an accident that is not your fault, contact an experienced car accident lawyer.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS
We hope you are staying safe this summer. If you are on the road and injured an accident, speak to an experienced car accident lawyer. The law firm of Anthem Injury Lawyers has a dedicated team ready to help you with your car accident case. Our lawyers have experience representing clients in a range of cases including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents.
Sometimes people are hesitant to call personal injury lawyers because they worry about paying a fee for the first consultation. We offer free case evaluations. If you’ve been the victim in a car accident, you can speak to us for free. And if you and we decide to go forward with your Las Vegas car accident case, we work on a contingency fee basis, so we are paid when we’ve won your case for you. Our office is conveniently located in Henderson and we work with clients all over the Las Vegas Valley. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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