When it comes to the technology we use in our cars and while
driving, the goals for car manufacturers and software developers in 2016 are twofold
– communication and safety. Although sometimes these seem to be at odds with
each other, a lot of current developments are attempting to make that more and
more a thing of the past. Distracted driving is not a new phenomenon but has
become an increasingly more prevalent concern in the last decade because of
cellular and smart phones. The temptation to use your phone behind the wheel is
very strong. Some companies are creating products to counter it. But
eliminating distraction caused by your mobile device is just one way safety
goals can be met. Vehicle manufacturers are exploring new approaches to
strengthen a car’s features, like the brakes, and others are making
unprecedented strides in safety technology. Here are 5 important things you
should know about how technology can potentially make you a safer driver, and
what obstacles still must be overcome.
1. Apps – The LifeSaver Distracted Driving App is an
example of mobile technology that modifies your behavior while driving, by
impeding your ability to use your phone. The app locks your phone while your
car is moving. It’s aimed towards young/inexperienced drivers with features
like text notifications to a designated party when the device is unlocked while
the vehicle is in motion. However, it could potentially be used by anyone who
wants to build better safety habits. The App’s simplicity makes it a useful
tool to prevent distracted driving. Including parents or a spouse obstructs the
ability to use a phone behind the wheel even further.
2. Vehicles that incorporate the “Internet of Things” – A
important implication of driverless cars, whenever they eventually emerge, is
that, at least in theory, automating personal vehicles will result in increased
safety and a reduction in automobile collisions. Seemingly the first step in
that direction is the rise of “smart”
autombiles. These are cars that can easily communicate with each other.
Car manufacturers are now striking
deals with wireless service providers that will allow their vehicles to be
more connected to each other, as well as to the driver’s other devices. As cars
are able to more and more “talk” to each other, it lays the foundation for an
eventual autonomous vehicle system on our roads.
3. Not So Fast! – Rapid fire advancements in tech are now putting
consumer trust in car manufacture’s at risk. Complaints about in-vehicle
technology have been rising according to J.D. Power & Associates, and
last year it was listed as the most prevalent issue affecting car owners. The
reasoning for that increase is that new in-car tech is moving too quickly to
ensure it’s viability, and in the mad dash for the next new thing consumers are
inheriting features that are rife with problems. Most issues have to do with
Bluetooth and GPS, which is an annoyance, but PROBABLY not life-threatening.
The implication here is that for truly effective and lasting safety improvements,
car companies will have to slow down their pace and focus on one significant upgrade
at a time.
4. Not long from now, the vehicle itself could be your
strongest ally in preventing distracted driving – While there are apps like the
aforementioned LifeSaver that could keep you from reaching for your phone while
behind the wheel, we could see that distraction-prevention system built in to
the car itself in coming years. Manufacturers are testing a technology that
could monitor your gaze
and notify you if you avert your eyes from the road for an extended period of
time. This could be a harbinger of a
possible future where your car and the other technology you own and use could
work together much more closely.
5. Automatic Braking and the Driverless Revolution - We can
now draw a parallel between safety improvements and companies inching towards autonomous
vehicles, as we also see a trend of car manufacturers moving in the same
direction as each other on a lot of these innovations. One more example of this
is automatic braking systems – 6 years from now 99% of cars on the market in
the United States will have one of these, per
a commitment made by 20 car manufacturers. According to the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
this is an important step on behalf of the auto makers, because if they didn’t
come to the decision on their own, and instead waited for regulators to act, the
process would take much longer. Manufacturers recognizing the importance of
improving their vehicles’ safety features, and the impact that has on the
evolution of personal vehicles, illustrates that we are truly experiencing a
unique moment in the history of transportation.
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