Forward collision warning systems can help prevent rear-end crashes

102416-sc-when-your-finger-is-the-key-to-starting-your-new-vehicle_main-image

New vehicle technologies meant to improve driving safety and ease is changing fast, making it a challenge for drivers to keep up.

How much of a challenge was revealed by a recent study.

It showed a “really surprising” level of confusion about features that have been standard in American cars for quite some time, according to one researcher, Daniel McGehee, director of the Transportation and Vehicle Safety Research Division at the University of Iowa Public Policy Center.

This blog post is about forward collision warning technology, safety features capable of warning drivers if they are about to crash into another vehicle from behind.

RELATED

Fit to be tried: When cruise-control technology measures up [videos]

One step ahead: Technology that may keep you out of trouble in traffic [videos]

The technology, which monitors traffic ahead using sensors that are typically camera- or radar-based, could prevent many accidents a year, according to the host of the video below.

That doesn’t mean drivers can be less cautious, but it does mean they have an extra layer of safety.

The university is cooperating with the National Safety Council through the website MyCarDoesWhat.org to provide information to new-vehicle owners on current technology. This includes videos and informational graphics that are entertaining and educational.

The video presented here, “Every second counts,” comes from MyCarDoesWhat.org, and is a continuation of a regular series on this blog. A 30-second quick guide also follows, plus a brief introduction to Rick and Scout, who host the full-length videos.

Forward collision warning

Quick guide video

Rick and Scout

More Like This

What to do when you get a tire-pressure warning on your dashboard
November 21, 2016

What to do when you get a tire-pressure warning on your dashboard

Vehicle technology is changing so fast it can be a challenge for drivers to keep up. Designed to make driving safer and easier, new technology has tested drivers’ adaptability. “The level of confusion about features that have been standard in…