High-tech safety features might be able to reduce accidents, but only if drivers don't become even less attentive, says the Insurance Information for Highway Safety, which released a top-five list at the SAE World Congress conference in Detroit this week. Volvo had all five of the features; Audi and Mercedes-Benz had four each; BMW, Cadillac, and Infiniti had three each. In the institute's newsletter released this week, IIHS raised concerns that drivers may use technology to pay even less attention to traffic hazards, figuring their electronic eyes and ears will see them through.
Here are the top five, listed in order of the potential to reduce accidents and save lives based on the number of accidents and fatal accidents over the past five years:
1. Forward collision warning with automatic braking
What it does (according to IIHS): Prevents or mitigates frontal crashes by alerting drivers of emergencies and, in some cases, automatically applying the brakes. This differs from adaptive (or active) cruise control, which slows when the car ahead slows, but doesn't necessarily cope with panic braking by a car ahead.
Who has it: Acura, Mercedes, and Volvo.
Related accidents 2002-2006 (accidents where the technology could be used): 2,268,000 accidents, 7,166 fatal accidents
2. Emergency brake assistance
What it does: Prevents or mitigates frontal crashes by detecting panic braking, readying the brakes, and/or boosting brake pressure. Sometimes called emergency brake force distribution (EBD or EBFD).
Who has it: Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, and Volvo.
Related accididents: 417,000 accidents, 3,079 fatalities 2002-2006.
3. Lane departure warning
Who has it: Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, and Volvo.
What it does: Alerts drivers who begin to stray from their travel lanes.
Related accidents: 483,000 accidents, 10,345 fatalities
4. Blind spot detection
Who has it: Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Mazda, Mercedes, and Volvo.
What it does: Warns drivers of vehicles in adjacent lanes.
Related accidents: 457,000 accidents, 428 fatalities.
5. Adaptive headlights
Who has it: Acura (image above), Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo.
What it does: Improves night vision around corners and curves.
Related accidents: 143,000 accidents, 2,553 fatalities.
In an on-the-one-hand-but-on-the-other-hand statement, IIHS president Adrian Lund said of forward collision warning and braking: "Drivers ... may pay less attention to the road ahead, relying too much on the technology to warn them and bail them out of danger. But if forward collision warning can prevent a fraction of the frontal crashes it's intended to address, then it really will produce a sizable benefit in terms of occupant safety."
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