Automatic braking can lead to fewer crashes

Advanced safety features in vehicles have likely made cars safer, according to a new study released by GM. It found that automatic braking has reduced rear collisions by 46% while other features have offered additional benefits to drivers. Fewer collisions mean that there are fewer traffic injuries and fatalities in Louisiana and on roads throughout the country. The study looked at 3.8 million vehicles from model years 2013 to 2017 to gather data and come to its conclusions.

Researchers were able to differentiate between cars that had advanced safety features and those that didn’t. Equipping vehicles with features such as rear cameras and reverse automatic braking reduced minor accidents by 81%. Furthermore, providing vehicles with lane change alert technology reduced accidents by 26%. According to GM, these features can help create a world where there are zero accidents and roads that are less congested.

One limitation to the study was that it focused only on vehicles made by GM. However, an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study found that a suite of rear sensors and cameras reduced crashes by 78%. The IIHS study also found that it cost insurance companies about $104 more to fix a vehicle that had an advanced safety feature. This is because sensors were typically housed in places where crash damage was likely to occur.

Anyone who is hurt in a car accident may be able to seek reimbursement for a variety of damages. This is generally true if the person who caused the crash was impaired or otherwise negligent. Typically, damages in an accident case include medical bills incurred, lost wages and forfeited future earnings. However, victims may be given money to purchase a new car or replace other items damaged in a crash.