We’ve all seen the
films of cars driving straight into a brick wall, while airbags deploy and a
computerized mannequin bounces around inside.
The only problem is, people don’t drive in straight lines and crash into
a straight wall. That’s why the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is experimenting with something called
“location based” crash tests.
This doesn’t mean they
smash a car up on the streets of St.
Louis, instead cars are being equipped with a unique
monitor that will determine where a
car was positioned when modern crash avoidance technology kicks in.
Scientists are working
with engineers to constantly improve data in features that act like a second
set of eyes on the road. Some of these
systems alert you when you’re too close to another vehicle, while others will
even apply the brakes. Lane departure
warnings were intended to alert you when you started to drift into another
lane, but the new location based tests are suggesting that one may be getting
inaccurate information.
While these fancy
things are designed to keep you safe, there’s no guarantee that your insurance
company will be impressed. According to
insurance.com, major insurance companies don’t seem to be offering any discounts
for these things. So, it’s best to
always keep your eyes on the road.
