Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Motor vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries and death have been declining in recent years. Much of this decline is directly related to improved vehicle safety features. From back-up cameras and sensors to lane-keep assist, advanced safety technologies have had a positive impact on American roadways. Toyota recently patented one of the newest technologies, an “augmented-reality windshield”. The smart windshield has the potential to alert drivers to road hazards and provide enhanced information throughout the driving process.
Vehicle Safety Features
Although Toyota’s new windshield is still in planning stages, it is just one many emerging technologies aimed at improving road safety. Other popular safety features include:
- Lane-keep assist: When a vehicle drifts out of its intended lane, this feature will gently steer the vehicle back into the original lane.
- Collision warning system: If a collision seems imminent, this feature will alert the driver.
- Advanced park assist: This system allows a driver to parallel park without touching the steering wheel.
- Adaptive headlights: Instead of relying on a fixed setting, advanced headlights adapt to changing road conditions.
- Adaptive cruise control: This feature maintains the driver-set speed but adjusts based on changing distance of the vehicle ahead.
- Drowsiness alert: Using a combination of driver and vehicle data, this system alerts the driver when he or she needs to pull over and rest.
Does Eliminating Human Error = Safer Roads?
Most of the above features were born out of a trend toward self-driving vehicles. “The movement toward autonomous vehicles — self-driving cars — has brought high-tech safety features to today’s cars, too,” says the vice president of property and casualty loss prevention and safety programs for USAA, Jim Salek. “Many of the groundbreaking advances in the area of car safety have come from these efforts.” Human error is almost always involved in motor vehicle accidents, so it stands to reason that autonomous – or at least partially-autonomous cars would be safer.
Toyota’s smart windshield has multiple features aimed at improving the driving experience and reducing serious injuries and death. For example, information such as navigation and speed are displayed on the windshield, preventing the driver from having to take his or her eyes off the road at regular intervals. If you have been injured, contact a Boston injury lawyer today.
Displaying information on the windshield is not particularly new. However, in addition to simply displaying the info, it is placed in the best spot for the driver’s viewing needs. “An [engine control module] analyzes the steering angle and speed, a front-mounted camera identifies the lane markings, and an interior camera finds the driver’s viewpoint,” claims a report on the Autoblog website. “By combining this data, the system moves the information around the windshield to be in the best location.” For example, when speeds increase, the display will move up on the windshield and the information will get smaller as the driver’s gaze moves up. The Autoblog report went on to say, “Toyota’s patent seems both incredibly useful and quite realistic.The individual components for this tech already exist, but [Toyota’s] idea employs them in new ways. We hope the company licenses the idea out for other HUDs because the applications could be a lot of fun.”
Altman & Altman, LLP – Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Boston and the Surrounding Areas
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for clients. Our knowledgeable, experienced injury team has been protecting the rights of accident and injury victims for more than five decades. If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
