According to Consumer Reports, not all car manufacturer technology is equal when it comes to avoiding car accidents in Hollywood and across the state. While car makers promise better crumple zones, better braking systems, more intelligent air bag systems, and many other technologies designed to help prevent car crashes – or at least to help you prevent head trauma, soft tissue damage, or spinal cord injuries in Hollywood if you are in a Florida accident – according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports, autonomous braking combined with forward-collision avoidance systems are the best technologies when it comes to reducing injuries and insurance claims.
A combined system of forward-collision avoidance and autonomous braking can slow or stop down a car facing a rear impact collision. According to the IIHS, cars such as the Volvo S60 and XC60 have this technology. For Volvo, it’s called the City Safety feature and it uses infrared technology to determine whether you are getting too close to another car too quickly. If you are, the car automatically applies the brakes to prevent or minimize the crash.
According to the IIHS, when comparing Volvo car crash car insurance claims between 2011 and 2012, cars with the City Safety Feature were less likely to be in a car collision than cars without the technology. In fact, cars with the technology had about 16% fewer property damage claims and 18-33% fewer personal injury claims when compared with Volvos that did not have City Safety.
While crash avoidance systems were once only used in luxury cars, they are now becoming more available in standard cars. Among 2013 cars, about 12% of models have autonomous braking systems and 29% have forward-collision warning systems as options. Forward-collision avoidance technology is standard for some models, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Honda Crosstour AWD, the Hyundai Equus, and others.
Can these technologies help you avoid a car or truck accident in Hollywood or your community? It is possible. If you are looking for a new car, it can be useful to compare safety features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website at safercar.gov has useful information about specific models and safety features.
However, personal injury attorneys in Hollywood and other safety experts note that having technology does not necessarily reduce your risk of an accident. Even if you have crash avoidance braking systems, you may not be able to avoid a traffic collision or pedestrian accident in Hollywood or your community.
Even the best technology is not worth much when drivers drive distracted, tired, or inebriated. Most safety experts agree that buckling up, honing driving skills, and driving defensively are still the best ways to avoid car crashes and their injuries. Keep in mind, too, that technologies such as forward-collision warning systems usually only work to prevent a few types of injuries and accidents. A forward-collision avoidance system, for example, will not help you avoid a side impact collision, pedestrian accident, or rear-end car accident in Hollywood or your community.
Have you been injured in a car accident in Hollywood or another South Florida city? Contact the compassionate attorneys with more than 60 years of combined experience. Contact the Flaxman Law Group today for a free, no obligation case evaluation.