The Ten Best Vehicle Safety Innovations For New Drivers & Teens

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

The safest vehicles are cars, trucks, or SUVs with the most advanced modern technology. One of the most advanced safety systems offered is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). ACC uses state-of-the-art radar sensors to keep your car, truck, or SUV at a safe distance from vehicles in front of you and your passengers. Here’s how the ACC system works:

• The driver establishes the cruise control maximum speed.
• The ACC radar system stays at a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you.
• When detecting an impending collision, the ACC will use the car’s AEB system (see the next safety option) to reduce speed or stop the car.

AEB: Automatic Emergency Braking

Driving while distracted has become a more prominent problem nowadays. This is primarily due to personal device usage while driving, particularly with teen drivers. AEB systems are specifically designed to avoid an accident before it occurs. In the event of an unavoidable collision, the AEB system will:

• Alert the driver with an audible alarm – some systems will also use vibrating seats and steering wheels, as well.
• If the driver doesn’t engage the brake fast enough to avoid an accident, the AEB system will apply the brakes automatically to help avoid or lessen the severity of a forward collision.
• In the event the driver requires additional stopping assistance, the following safety innovation steps in.

Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)/Crash Imminent Braking (CIB)

Many more car, truck, and SUV manufacturers are including extra automatic braking systems to assist drivers in avoiding or severely minimizing the intensity of a collision. The inclusion of a DBS/CIB system helps the driver by:

• Automatically adding brake pressure in the event that the vehicle senses the driver’s braking pressure is insufficient to stop the vehicle before an accident.
• In the event that the driver fails to apply the brakes at all, the CIB system will automatically apply the brakes to reduce the damage or avoid of an accident.

Adaptive Headlights

With these incredible headlights, dark corners on badly lit roads are a distant memory. Linked to the steering system, the head lights turn in the very same direction the steering wheel is turning in order to illuminate the area the car is turning into. This safety feature is especially helpful in rural areas with minimal or no exterior lighting.

Forward Collision Warning

Thanks to this safety innovation, distracted driving is becoming less of a problem. Cameras, radar, and even lasers are masterfully utilized to signal drivers when vehicles in front of them are getting too near to the front of your vehicle. Throw in an automatic emergency braking system and you can rest easy when your teen driver gets on the road.

Blind Spot Detection

Speaking of keeping your eyes on the road, that frustrating blind spot has finally been eliminated thanks to this safety feature. Video cameras and\or lasers keep an eye out in areas on your vehicle that the majority of drivers are unable to. A caution alert makes sure you are aware of another vehicle’s presence before you move into their lane.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)/Lane Keeping System (LKS)

Even more good news for distracted drivers. Video cameras and lasers are also utilized to watch the lane markings on the typical road. When the system senses the car has begun vacating its lane, it will alert the driver with lights and alarms, a vibrating steering wheel, and even a vibrating seat.

Rear-View Camera

Not to be confused with back-up cameras, the difference between these 2 incredible features is stark. While back-up cameras often have a restricted field of view, rear view cameras typically make use of wide-angle lenses to offer the driver a much wider view of who or what is behind them.

TPMS: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

As the name implies, your car’s TPMS sensors keep track of the air pressure in allfour tires and informs the driver with dashboard lights and even alarms if the tire pressure reach critical levels.

Facial Recognition Software

Finally, we have one of the newest additions to our vehicle safety suites. Thanks to innovations in face recognition technology, cars, truck, and SUVs are starting to include this tech to keep track of driver alertness. Once calibrated to the driver’s distinct facial features, the software can detect slight alterations in driver attention levels. The software will then inform the driver with alarms and dashboard lights. This being a new safety feature, drivers can anticipate more advanced alerting measures like vibrating steering wheels and seats.