5 new car features that can increase road safety

Technology is ever-evolving and one of its best uses is to increase driver safety. Car manufacturers have implemented various new high-tech features that can assist you by giving you more information about your surroundings or even refuse to drive when you should not be operating the vehicle.

Some are still in concept development but are not too far off into the future. Soon, drivers will have more boxes to tick when looking for a new car.

1. Speed-limiting technology

The UK wants to make speed-limiting features mandatory for all new cars being released from 2022. This could be implemented in different ways including a type of cruise control that locks at a given speed, or contacts authorities when a car breaches a certain speed.

2. Blind-spot alert

Some car brands like Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai have cameras that will alert the driver when there is a vehicle in your blind spot. This could prevent many a crash resulting from not looking properly when changing lanes, or simply not seeing another car in time when taking a turn.

3. Augmented reality windscreens

This very futuristic feature is still in talks but could open up a whole new world. Chinese company Futurus is developing an augmented reality windscreen with a resolution of 80 pixels that could pinpoint hazards detected by the car’s systems, emphasise lane divisions, and add navigation directions directly onto the driver’s view of the road.

In 2018, Apple also filed a patent for an AR windscreen that will make FaceTime chats possible on the screen.

4. Drunk-driving sensors

Nissan has built a concept car with an alcohol sensor in the gear shift knob, which can detect alcohol in the driver’s sweat on their hand. When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the gears, so that driving is impossible.

Volvo has a similar feature that will cause the car to slow down and contact a Volvo call centre. Cameras in the car will look for visible facial signs of alcohol intoxication, such as dilated pupils. The steering wheel will also include sensors that can determine how reactive the driver is, according to AZ Big Media.

5. Health monitoring

This monitoring system can be programmed to detect when a driver displays abnormal physical conditions, that could lead to a heart attack, for example. The car will then automatically slow down or pull over with automated steering. Companies currently using this technology include Ford, Lexus, Mercedes, and Plessey.

Picture: Twitter/phoneweekuk