Features Making Driving Safer

Since seat belts became mandatory in 1968, car manufacturers — with assistance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — have continued to improve vehicle safety and prevent road crashes with features such as airbags, antilock brakes, and backup cameras.

Here are eight newer technologies to look for the next time you are in the market for a new vehicle.

1. Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
   Automatically maintains a set following distance from the vehicle directly ahead of your car using sensors, cameras, and radar.

2. Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
   Monitors traffic, alerts the driver of a possible collision, and applies the vehicle’s brakes if it detects a possible collision. Some systems will bring the vehicle to a complete stop, while others will decelerate it until the driver reacts.

3. Blind spot warning (BSW)
   Alerts the driver of vehicles entering the blind spots on either side of their car when changing lanes.

4. Forward collision warning (FCW)
   Warns of vehicles or other objects in front of a vehicle and will automatically apply the brakes. This technology is often integrated with AEB.

5. Lane-tracing assist (LTA)
   It helps prevent their vehicle from drifting into another lane, working with the auto›s adaptive cruise control.

6. Lane-centering assistance (LCA)
   It uses cameras to detect lane markings and works to keep the vehicle centered and not drift into another lane.

7. Lane-departure warning (LDW)
   Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to drift into another lane using a camera to detect when vehicle drivers over the lane markers.

8. Rear cross traffic warning (RCTW)
   RCTW turns on when the vehicle is backing out of a parking spot, driveway, or into crossing traffic. Similar to blind-spot monitoring, RCTW uses radar or ultrasonic sensors on the rear bumper.

NJM Insurance Group’s Commitment to Safety

NJM’s enduring commitment to safety can be traced back to our earliest days — with a focus that has expanded from improving conditions in manufacturing facilities to helping keep customers safe on the roads and at home. NJM is a leader in personal and commercial auto, homeowners, and workers’ compensation insurance.

References:

1. Krisher, Tom. (2024, November 18). US to add features such as blind spot warnings and pedestrian detection to vehicle crash ratings. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/automobile-safety-nhtsa-crash-pedestrian-2fc22f755c51bfe9bb668f90e8ee8956.