Cars of the Future will have Technology to Overide Bad Driver Decisions

We have all seen it in science fiction movies – cars that talk and have a mind of their own. This is closer to reality than many of us think. Many companies like Nissan and Audi and even tech startups like Google are already working on cars that can drive themselves. These have to overcome a few legal hurdles before they become street legal. However, automakers have already started incorporating technologies that can override the bad decisions made by drivers. As human error accounts for a large number of accidents, this is indeed a welcome trend. This recent agreement between 20 automakers, the NHTSB (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) a standard feature in cars sold in the United States by 2022 is a pointer in this direction.

The automotive industry is evolving at a rapid pace and day by day new technologies are being developed which can minimize the impact of bad decisions made by the driver. A few technologies have already made an appearance in production models. These include ignition interlock devices which will not allow the driver to start the car if seatbelts are not worn correctly or if he is intoxicated. There are sensors to detect traffic lights and stop lights and will make cars stop at traffic lights even if the driver has his foot on the accelerator. Driving while tired or sleepy is another major reason for accidents and Volkswagen has come up with a feature that will help a car to correct its own course if the driver drifts from the road. Using a combination of sophisticated camera systems and computers, the vehicle deducted from highway markings when the driver was losing attention and the car was being driven outside normal parameters. It uses the steering gear motor linked to the electronic power steering to take control of the car and correct its course. The system works in tandem with technology to monitor the driver’s heartbeat and detect if he is sleepy or alert.

With the rate at which software and technology is evolving, it will only be a matter of time before cars come with features that will make accidents due to driver error a matter of history.