Chevrolet’s Low-Cost Pedestrian Accident Avoidance System May Be the Start of New Trend in Car Safety

This upcoming year, General Motors will be introducing new pedestrian accident avoidance systems in its mainstream vehicles. This is a first for the industry, which typically only offers pedestrian avoidance technology in luxury vehicles. GM will be able to offer this safety system in the newest models of its lower-priced vehicles, including the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan.

The newly designed system only uses camera and software technology, as opposed to the radar technology used in previous pedestrian avoidance systems. The price differential is a few hundred dollars, which makes it significantly more affordable for those who in the past could not afford to add active safety features to their vehicles.

In tests done with the ’16 Malibu, the car came to a stop from a speed of 15 mph when test dummies darted in front of the vehicle. Although this system is a step in the right direction for making pedestrian safety systems widely available, the camera-based system is still not as effective as those that use radar. GM pointed out that the camera system “can mitigate but won’t avoid crashes at speeds of 20 to 40 mph, and may not be of much use in collisions at higher speeds.”

The same camera that is used for this new system has been used in the past and will continue to be used in other GM active safety vehicle features. For the past few years, it has been used for the lane-departure warnings and forward-collisions alerts in GM’s lower-cost vehicles. Now GM is expanding its use and including the camera technology in the new “city speed automatic front braking” system, which stops or lessens the impact of a rear-end collision. GM engineers are also working on upgrading the system to include bicycle detection. GM’s global product chief, Mark Reuss, told reporters that the systems being developed may become the foundation for crash avoidance systems in future autonomous vehicles.

Additional Active Safety Features to Avoid Car Collisions

Active safety features are important to the future of vehicles because they help drivers avoid car or at least reduce the damage caused when car accidents occur. As this type of technology becomes affordable for the average consumer, it is important to make sure the next vehicle you buy has some of the following active safety features:

• Adaptive Cruise Control: Similar to traditional cruise control, this system maintains the vehicle’s pre-set speed, but will make adjustments to move with the flow of traffic. It does this by setting a pre-determined distance between one’s vehicle and the vehicle in front of it. If the vehicle ahead slows down, your vehicle will adjust by slowing down the engine or using the brakes system if needed.
• Forward Collision Warning & Breaking: This feature continually monitors the area in front of your vehicle by detecting slow-moving and stopped objects. The first warning alerts the driver and adjusts the seatbelt so there is no slack. Next, the brakes are put into “alert mode,” making it easier for the driver to brake quickly. If the driver does not react to either of these warnings, the vehicle will automatically brake in an attempt to avoid a collision.
• Blind Spot Detection: This feature assists drivers when changing lanes. The system uses two radar sensors that are connected to each side rear-view mirror, which continuously monitor the presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes. The system uses a warning sign when vehicles enter one’s blind spot and an additional audio warning if the driver begins to change lanes.
• Cross-Traffic Assist: This type of technology aids drivers when backing out of parking spaces. It alerts drivers when another vehicle moves within 5 parking spaces of your vehicle.
• Lane Departure Warning: This feature uses lane markings to alert drivers when they swerve out of their lanes and is effective around turns and corners as long as the vehicle’s lights are turned on.
• Road Sign Detection: This feature reminds drivers of the speed limit and displays other road signs on the dashboard. It also alerts drivers to dangerous driving conditions.
• Light Source Recognition: This feature dims headlights in dark conditions in which your vehicle’s lights will blind an oncoming driver and then reverts them back to normal afterward.
• Night Vision: This system uses infrared lighting to detect upcoming road conditions, including pedestrians and other vehicles. Warnings are issued for objects that may not be easily seen by headlights.

Although accident avoidance technology helps prevent some collisions, car crashes are still a daily occurrence. If you have been in a recent Michigan car accident, it is important to speak to a Detroit car crash attorney about your legal rights following the accident. By calling the lawyers at Goodman Acker you can be sure that you are in good hands. Our experienced and trusted lawyers are experts in this field and can get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call today at (866) 483-6711 for a Free, No Obligation case review.