Latest Blogs

What is the first question a vehicle buyer should ask when purchasing a vehicle? It may not be reliability, comfort, status and gas mileage. It is what safety features does the vehicle have. Consumers and manufacturers are putting safety at the top of their lists. 

United Services Automobile Association (USAA), assistant vice president, Joel Camarano said in 2014, "Most of these features are designed to help prevent or avoid an accident, but they can also help reduce the severity of one by slowing the vehicle before an impact." 

The Chicago Tribune reports that electronic safety features have come a long way from the antilock brakes and stability controls of only a few years ago. Now electronic safety features are designed to stop a head-on collision, avoid a sideswipe and prepare passengers for sudden impact. They have also become affordable according to the Tribune. Whereas electronic braking systems were once a luxury option, they are now standard on all cars. Smart brakes and crash alerts are following the same pattern.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) there are six common safety features which are now, "...rapidly making their way into the vehicle fleet." They are:

1. Adaptive cruise control - This system uses radar to detect slower vehicles. Once detected, the vehicle automatically adjusts its speed to maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
2. Adaptive headlights - CarTech reports that there are a number of different adaptive headlight technologies. However, they are all designed to improve a driver's sight at night. Most of the systems improve sight distance in corners, but some also can adjust in response to weather conditions, the presence of other vehicles and other factors.
3. Blind spot detection - According to CarTech, blind spot detection systems use a variety of sensors and cameras to provide drivers with information about objects that are outside their range of vision. These cameras are able to provide views from either side of a vehicle which allows drivers to verify that the blind spot is clear.
4. Front crash prevention - These systems, according to IIHS, use various types of sensors, such as cameras, radar or laser, to detect when a vehicle is getting too close to one in front of it. Most of the systems issue a warning and pre-charge the brakes to maximize their effect if the driver responds by braking. If the driver does not respond, many of the systems will automatically brake.
5. Lane departure warning and prevention - This technology assists the vehicle by automatically correcting the course if the vehicle reaches the lane markings. It may also automatically keep the vehicle centered on the road.
6. Park assist and back-over protection - Uses cameras and other sensors to assist drivers avoid crashes when backing up.

In May 2015, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued their Special Investigation Report, "The Use of Forward Collision Avoidance Systems to Prevent and Mitigate Rear-End Crashes." Their Executive Summary states, "In 2012 alone, more than 1.7 million rear-end crashes occurred on our nation’s highways, resulting in more than 1,700 fatalities and 500,000 injured people. Many of these crashes could have been mitigated, or possibly even prevented, had rear-end collision avoidance technologies been in place. The summary of the NTSB research showed significant benefit from the use of forward collision avoidance systems."

"Before purchasing a new vehicle, it is prudent to ask about the safety features and investigate what they do and how they work. Being involved in vehicle accidents may not be foremost in vehicle buyers minds when they are purchasing a new vehicle. However, accidents happen and accidents often change lives," said Fort Myers Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.