In the US, car accidents will often lead to court cases and litigation, both from private parties and federal level interests. However, as recently revealed by Reuters, the technical information that shows the causes of defective cars and breakdowns are often sealed while these proceedings are underway. A practice common among the older car manufacturers and big auto brands in the US, it is designed to retain consumer confidence. However, according to Reuters, it often prolongs the peril that drivers face by allowing defective cars on the road for longer. With the hands of the judiciary tied, today, newer car manufacturers are often providing the transparency required.
Transparency of reporting
Vehicle recall followed by a blanket ban on reporting defects is the primary issue at hand with current crashes and rooting out their causes. Another notable story of automobile failure may have shown the way forward for modern auto manufacturers. Late January saw the NHTSA announce that they would be conducting a review of 500,00 Tesla vehicles that drivers said had started arbitrarily accelerating and decelerating without any impetus.
Of major benefit to drivers and authorities is the fact that so much personal data is stored by newer electric vehicles. This information is instantly and readily available. The use of this data in smart security systems has led to the creation of life safety systems, which combine smart technology with essential life-saving tools that protect driver safety both on the road and in terms of deterring crime. A cloud based solution pairing active data with cutting-edge tech, these tools are enterprise led and will help to safeguard drivers.
Profits drive safety
The next logical step for many car manufacturers is a foray into driverless vehicles. However, a huge stumbling block in this technology has been the perceived lack of safety seen in current models and road tests. This is set to change, according to Techerati, with the advent of new R&D and competition driving up interest in the sector. What does this mean for safety? Driverless cars simply won’t exist without a guarantee of safety on the roads, and this includes infrastructure; many driverless cars will rely on the quality and safety of roads in order to be operated safely.
Better maps, better safety
Transforming the in-car experience are new, multi-level interactive maps, which Scitech Europa has predicted to be more effective and accurate than the current offerings from the major tech houses. These new maps are designed to be paid-for and increase the accuracy of route planning, ultimately creating a better drive, but have had a positive side-effect. The collection of driver data and use of interconnected vehicles is creating maps that are living and breathing representations of traffic and potential accidents. This smart approach to route planning, ultimately driven by a desire for a market-topping product, is proving successful for safety standards.
Federal regulation has, according to Reuters, put a cap on the ability of drivers to create a safe driving environment for themselves. The connected technology age is breaking this barrier down. As a positive side effect of the desire for smart technology on every mile of a road trip, private enterprise is creating a safer driving environment for all.
