There’s a lot that can go wrong when you’re driving a vehicle.
From missing a road hazard sign to choosing the wrong action when needing to drive defensively, there are plenty of errors a driver can make. Of course, the biggest mistakes are rarely accidents. Instead, they’re choices drivers make, including driving distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Choosing to drive tired is also a common driver error, one that can have disastrous and sometimes fatal results.
According to reports, thousands of people die each year in the United States because of crashes caused by distracted driving. And, while many people believe that hands-free devices, as well as dashboard entertainment, are the answer, the truth is that this kind of technology doesn’t eliminate the problem, which is being distracted from driving.
Unfortunately, that’s only the beginning of the problem. With more than one in eight drivers in the United States admitting to getting behind the wheel when they were over the legal blood-alcohol limit and half of all adult drivers admitting to regularly operating a vehicle when they feel tired or drowsy, the addition of technology only adds to the crisis. Most adults underestimate how influenced they are by fatigue or substances, choosing to drive even though their instincts tell them it’s not a good idea. Remember, adults need at least seven hours of sleep each day to function properly. (Even losing two hours of sleep can have the same effect as driving after drinking three beers.)
And, when teens get involved, the statistics become even worse, with half of all teenagers being involved in an auto accident before they even graduate from high school.
There is, however, some help when it comes to reducing accidents on the road – and it comes from an unlikely source: technology.
Yes, technology is a big part of the problem, but it’s also working to become part of the solution. While there’s no replacement for drivers being focused, the hundreds of millions of cars on the roads today with advanced safety technologies are helping to reduce the risk of car crashes and auto fatalities.
The website MyCarDoesWhat.org is a great resource for drivers wanting to learn more about how their car’s safety features actually work. Offering videos and graphics, the website is informative for everyone who drives. Whether you’re looking to learn about what a specific icon means or which features are helping to reduce the risk of crashes, MyCarDoesWhat.org is likely to have the answers.
On the website, you’ll learn more about:
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Headlights
Anti-Lock Braking System
Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic Parallel Parking
Automatic Reverse Braking
Back-Up Cameras
Back-Up Warnings
Bicycle Detection
Blind Spot Warnings
Brake Assist
Curve Speed Warning
Drowsiness Alert
Electronic Stability Control
Forward Collision Warning
High-Speed Alert
Hill Descent Assist
Hill Start Assist
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keeping Assist
Left Turn Crash Avoidance
Obstacle Detection
Parking Sensors
Pedestrian Detection
Push Button Start
Rear Cross-Traffic Alerts
Sideview Cameras
Temperature Warning
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Traction Control