Pre-crash technologies

Did you know that the National Transportation Safety Board is strongly considering making pre-crash or pre-collision technology in motor vehicles mandatory in the next year or two? Maybe you have seen the Mercedes Benz commercials where the driver starts to unconsciously swerve into oncoming traffic? The technology referenced in those commercials is pre-crash or pre-collision technology. This technology works by using radar or sensors to detect the imminent approach of vehicles or objects. When a collision is detected the vehicle is designed to perform several functions to reduce the severity of the crash on the vehicle occupants. There may be some sort of warning beep transmitted to the driver of the vehicle. The seats on the vehicle may also inflate in order to provide additional support in the event of a collision. The seatbeats may become tighter. The passenger seat is automatically adjusted to further protect the person riding in it. The rear headrests are folded up to prevent whiplash. Finally, the vehicle's partial or full brakes are applied to reduce or avoid impact. All of these functions are carried out electronically without any action being taken by the vehicle's driver or other occupants of the vehicle.

This type of vehicle functionality is something most people probably don't think much about when deciding to purchase a vehicle, but think about it this way; You are driving on a two lane highway with your family in the vehicle with you. You are engaged in a highly animated conversation with your passenger so you don't notice that the vehicle coming directly towards you is veering into your lane and is about to make contact with your vehicle. The single action that alerts you to this serious situation is that you suddenly become aware that your vehicle has automatically applied your vehicle's full braking capacity while tightening your seatbeats. Somehow, you avoid a collision with the oncoming vehicle. At that point in time, how valuable would this technology be to you?