Important Gadgets That Will Improve Your Safety While Driving On The Road

Since automobiles were first invented, we have always been looking for ways to make them as safe as possible. The times are over when the only road safety gadgets were a seatbelt and airbags. With road safety a big consideration for everyone, car manufacturers companies are always focused on designing new technology which can keep us safe in the car. As there are many potential issues on the roads, from drunk drivers to poor road surfaces, there is now a device to help with almost everything.

From clever devices which are designed to react in an emergency to gadgets which notify you of impending danger, here are the most important gadgets that will improve your safety while driving on the road.

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1. Drowsiness Detectors

Driving on a long journey can make everybody feel tired, but if you fall asleep while driving, the consequences can be terrible. One New Jersey car accident attorney explained that drivers falling asleep at the wheel is one of the biggest causes of accidents in the state. In fact, over 30% of all vehicle incidents are caused by drowsy driving, which lead to substantial injury, death, vehicle damage, and all the related legal issues. To combat this, installing drowsiness detectors on your vehicle can be a literal lifesaver. Whenever unusual driving is detected which the system judges may be the result of you becoming drowsy, the system will wake you up with a loud audible warning which will help you to pull your car over and rest safely. Volvo, Volkswagen and many other car manufacturers now install these detectors as standard features because they are so important for improving vehicle safety. 

2. Automated Speed Limiters

Automated speed limiters have been developed so that your car doesn’t go over the limit when you are driving. The limiter works by using GPS to track your car, and using the road information, detects whether you are staying within the speed limit. If you are driving too fast, different limiter systems will take different action. Some will give you a warning that you need to reduce your speed, whilst other systems will reduce it automatically by cutting the fuel supply to the engine. As speeding, along with drowsy driving, is one of the biggest causes of accidents on the road, these limiter systems are becoming more and more popular.

3. Lane Sensors

Anticipating danger before it arises is an important skill for all drivers, and one really simple way which you can reduce your chances of an accident is to stay in your own lane unless you are making a change. This will prevent any collisions and will also make the other drivers around you feel safe. Lane sensors are one way which ensures that you don’t drift accidentally as each time you cross the lines they will alert you. During a long drive on the highway it can be easy to switch off for a second and not realize that you are drifting so these sensors really can help to keep you and other road users safe. Some systems will even take over your steering to prevent you from crossing into another lane if you haven’t signaled first.

4. Blind-Spot Sensors

Blind spots can be potentially dangerous, especially for big trucks and buses. Blind spot sensors help to increase the driver’s visibility, particularly when vehicles are behind or are overtaking on either side. They use special sensors which notify the driver with either a visual or an audible alert that there is a vehicle in their blind spot so that they can be extra careful and wait for the other vehicle to make its maneuver. Blind spot sensors are particularly effective in reducing collisions which occur during lane changes.

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5. External Airbag Systems

Usually when we think of airbags we just think of the ones inside the car to protect the driver and the passengers in the case of an accident. Previously this is the only way which airbags were used and they were very effective in reducing death and serious injuries which resulted from vehicle accidents. Now, however, there are also airbags which can be fitted on the front and rear bumpers and on the windshield so as to reduce the force of a collision. This has the effect of both protecting the people in the car and those in the other vehicle involved in the accident. Hopefully, the two vehicles will bounce off each other rather than crushing up which can be very dangerous. 

Regardless of the number of gadgets we develop to make our vehicles safer, driving will always have potential issues and dangers. It is vital to acknowledge that drivers bear a huge amount of the burden for keeping themselves and others safe. Always drive carefully, stay within the speed limit and be mindful of other road users.