Auto safety tech: Preventing injuries vs. preventing accidents

On Behalf of Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys | July 20, 2022 | Car Accident Injuries

When it comes to automobile safety technology, there has generally been two schools of thought. The first was simply to make it less likely that people would be severely injured or killed in car accidents. The second was to prevent accidents themselves.

In modern vehicles, both are designed to combat car accidents. But how?

Seat belts and airbags

One of the very first auto safety tech widely implemented was the seat belt. This was later followed by the airbag. Both types of technology do nothing to stop an accident from happening; the vehicle is just as vulnerable to a crash as it would have been before.

However, seatbelts and airbags can help tremendously in reducing the severity of the injuries suffered in a crash. They are especially effective at preventing traumatic head injuries when a person’s head hits the dash and also preventing people from being ejected from the vehicle.

Technological developments that prevent accidents

After these initial developments, it was clear that these two safety mechanisms could only do so much. They were designed to prevent injury not actual accidents. So, automakers shifted their focus to technology that can actually prevent an auto accident from occurring.

The forward collision warning system is a good example. This type of system monitors what’s happening in front of your car and it can predict if an accident is going to happen. In some vehicles, the systems are so complex that they simply hit the breaks automatically before the driver even knows something is wrong.

Backup cameras, lane departure warning systems, blind-spot monitors and even autopilot systems that correct for minor driver mistakes have also been implemented in modern-day vehicles of all types to prevent auto accidents.

Such advances in modern day driving have no doubt prevented accidents and mitigated serious injury or death to those traveling on today’s highways and roads. However, accidents will, unfortunately, continue to occur. Those who have suffered serious injury are encouraged to reach out to a personal injury attorney who can ensure that adequate compensation under the law is sought against the the insurance carrier or other at-fault parties.