4 Car Technologies That Make Life Easier

Car technologies are making life easier for drivers. Technologies are offering new insights into the way people drive, alerting drivers of potential vehicles in their blind spot and offering a backup view when the driver is moving in reverse.

1. Parking Sensors and Backup Cameras

Backing up your vehicle is a lot easier when you don’t have to turn around and look behind you. Cameras are mounted to the back of newer vehicles, making it easier to back into and out of parking spaces.

Rearview cameras are becoming standard in 2018 for all vehicles under 10,000 pounds.

High-resolution images make it easier to view behind the driver, parallel park and avoid potential accidents. Some may also have parking sensors that alert drivers when they’re too close to an object.

2. Emergency Braking Automation

Emergency braking is essential for all drivers. If a vehicle brakes hard in front of you, a one-second delay can mean the difference between crashing and avoiding an accident. Automatic braking, offered through advanced sensors, stops a vehicle when a danger is imminent.

Automation is faster and more efficient than a human’s own reaction.

These features can be life-saving in many potential accidents.

3. Traffic Light Prediction Technology

Imagine knowing when a traffic light was going to change. City drivers have to react to light changes quickly, making driving more bearable and to avoid the constant honking of horns behind them.

Apps are available for traffic light prediction, including EnLighten.

EnLighten is a free app, and while the app has mixed reviews, many car manufacturers are integrating the app into their systems. Some companies are also making their own iteration of the app.

You can avoid red lights and stay safer on the road as a result.

4. Automatic Parking

Imagine letting your vehicle park itself. Lexus’ LS460 has the ability to almost parallel park itself back in 2006. All the driver had to do was hit the brake when instructed. Now, autonomous parking systems are advancing, with many of the world’s leading automakers working on similar functions.

Tesla revealed their Model S and X offering a Summon feature. Users can park their vehicles using a key fob. When the user is done shopping or eating, the vehicle will leave the parking spot and find the driver to pick them up.

Imagine never having to search a packed parking lot for a space again.

Yet, some of these technologies that are making drivers’ lives easier are actually causing accidents and injuries.

Keyless ignition is proving to be deadly.

“Many individuals are used to using a key and this makes it easy to forget to press the button. Consumer safety advocates assert that keyless ignition is deadly as it exposes individuals to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a ‘silent killer’ since its colorless, odorless and virtually undetectable until it’s too late. Many other people narrowly escape death, spend significant time, and some have been left with permanent brain damage,” writes The Chicago Injury Lawyer.

Technology, especially safety features, have the potential to save people’s lives, but some technologies also pose the risk of injuries or death when not used properly.