Most newer vehicles are equipped with front crash prevention systems. These systems are advanced safety features designed to help prevent collisions or reduce their severity by alerting the driver and taking automatic corrective action if necessary.
However, two new studies have found that these systems are not as effective at preventing collisions with large trucks and motorcycles as they are at preventing car accidents.
IIHS conducts crash prevention study
The studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that front crash prevention systems reduce rear-end crashes with:
- Medium or heavy trucks by 38 percent.
- Motorcycles by 41 percent.
- Other passenger vehicles by 53 percent.
“These reductions are impressive for all vehicle types, but the safety benefits could be even larger if front crash prevention systems were as good at mitigating and preventing crashes with big trucks and motorcycles as they are with cars,” said Jessica Cicchino, the IIHS vice president of research.
The IIHS determined if that was the case, these systems could prevent another 5,500 crashes a year with medium or heavy trucks and another 500 crashes with motorcycles. It would also mean a reduction in fatalities in these types of accidents.
Researchers take a closer look at effectiveness
The front crash prevention systems used in the studies included:
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW): FCW systems monitor the distance between a vehicle and the vehicle ahead. If you are approaching too quickly and a collision is imminent, the system will alert you to take action, such as applying the brakes or steering away from the hazard.
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): AEB systems go a step further than FCW by automatically applying the brakes if a driver fails to respond to the collision warning. This can help reduce the severity of a collision or, in some cases, prevent it altogether.
These systems use sensors, cameras, radar, or a combination of these technologies to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and detect potential collision risks.
Why aren’t these systems equally effective at preventing crashes with all types of vehicles?
“Motorcycles are smaller and narrower than cars, making them more difficult for camera- and radar-based systems to identify, especially at higher speeds,” said IIHS Senior Research Scientist David Kidd. “Extra-large vehicles are presumably easier to detect, but their dimensions appear to confuse the systems’ algorithms.”
Injured in a crash? Contact a San Antonio car accident lawyer
A car accident can leave victims with serious injuries that have a significant impact on their lives. Medical expenses add up quickly. If they can’t work, there is less money coming in. They are in physical pain and also have to deal with financial stress.
Negligent drivers who cause these accidents should pay for the damages they cause. But these drivers typically deny doing anything wrong. Insurance companies use many different tactics to try to pay victims as little as possible. If you were hurt in San Antonio, you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. The Herrera Law Firm can help.
Our lawyers have been fighting for the injured for decades. We know how injuries from an accident can affect you and your family. We investigate your crash and build strong cases that insurance companies have to take seriously. If you’ve been hurt in San Antonio, contact us to schedule a free consultation.
