Practically every recent vehicle today has assistance technology and safety features that can assist drivers with being more secure while driving. You may know some of these, and some of you may not understand what your vehicle has!
A considerable number of these new features are not yet normalized in some vehicles. Your vehicle’s features might not be the same as another person’s. Make sure to actually take a look at your car’s manual to best see how your vehicle functions.
Advanced active safety features can mitigate the impact of accidents or prevent them from happening altogether. They give the driver control over their vehicle in dangerous situations, reducing the impact of an emergency.
These systems monitor the performance of the vehicle and driver and also take the surrounding of the vehicle into account.
This is the final part of the safety features series, and in this article, we will look at advanced features that assist with parking, backing, lane, and side. If you haven’t read previous articles, use the links below to get to them…
What are driver assistance technology and safety features that can assist you with parking, backing, lane, and side? Here are a few that can get you started…
A. Parking Assistance Technology
1. Automatic Parallel Parking
This system utilizes advanced sensors which find a gap between vehicles where a vehicle will be parked. It uses proximity sensors on the front, side, and backside of the vehicle which help in locating the gap area. This component helps the driver not to bump into other vehicles close by and can assume control of steering and accelerating while parking.
Various vehicles have various names for this component, it is called Parking Assistant Plus in BMW, Automatic Parking Assist in Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC… It is known as Park Assist in Volkswagen, Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi, Autopark in Tesla, Intelligent Parking Assist in Toyota, etc.
The sensors will alarm the driver assuming that the vehicle is going to bump into an obstacle and may request the driver shift to drive to complete the parking maneuver
2. Parking Sensors
These are sensors found on the bumpers of a vehicle that assist with parking. They alert the driver when there is an obstacle within close proximity of the vehicle, detecting objects that are up to 4ft for the front sensors and back up to 8ft. To know how close you are to an object, the beeps become shorter as the vehicle gets closer to the object.
B. Backing Assistance Technology
1. Back up Camera
Serves as an extra set of eyes for the driver. They help the driver see objects behind the car clearly while backing using a camera that is on the rear end of your vehicle. Some models show lines to help you stay on track.
While backing you should not depend on the backup camera alone, but make use of your mirrors and other safety features.
2. Back up warning
This feature makes use of sensors mounted on the rear of the vehicle that alerts the driver if there are any objects in the way while backing.
3. Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Rear crossing traffic alert makes use of sensors around the rear of a vehicle which alerts the driver if there is another vehicle approaching from either side of the vehicle while backing. The alert usually comes as a warning sound and light flashing on the mirrors.
C. Lane Assistance Technology
1. Lane Departure
Lane Departure alerts the driver when they are drifting or veering off their lane. It reads road markings and alerts the driver either visually or with sounds. The downside of this feature is that it is not designed to work on unpaved roads because it reads road markings to function.
2. Lane Keeping Assistance
Just like lane departure, this feature relies on road markings to function. Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) monitors the position of the vehicle and gently steers you back into your lane if you begin to drift or veer off. LKA may even apply the brakes or steer your wheel back into position.
D. Side Assistance Technology
1. Blind Spot Warning (BWS)
This feature makes use of cameras and sensors to detect vehicles in drivers’ blind spots that can’t be seen and alert the driver. The driver usually gets a visual warning on the mirrors or an audible alert or vibrations on the steering wheel. Also when the driver uses their turn signals, they will be alerted if a vehicle is close to them in another lane.
2. Side View Camera
Side view camera enhances visibility on the passenger side and gives the driver a full view of the vehicle surrounding. This feature is activated when the turning signal is in use and can be activated manually.
Key Take Out Notes!
- Your vehicle’s assistance technology and safety features may differ from others so check your car manual to best understand your car.
- Car accidents are inevitable but with advanced safety features, you have a better chance of preventing or mitigating the effect of an emergency.
- As a driver always think safety first and invest in safety tools and features
Further Reading
- 5 Things to do to Restore Your Flooded Vehicle
- Car Safety Pt.1: Safety Features that Prevent Forward Collision
- Car Safety Pt. 2: Braking, Tire Pressure, and Anti-Rollover Car Safety Features
- Driver Assist Technology: Safety Features in Cars for Monitoring and Communication
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