Credit: wfla.com/
Self-driving cars are some way off, but in the meantime, systems which are already available provide improvements in safety. Automatic braking can reduce collisions by 40% & collision alerts can reduce them by 23%.
Even more importantly, automatic braking has been shown to reduce whiplash & other injuries by 45%.
http://www.mynrma.com.au/get-involved/advocacy/news/is-it-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-rear-ender.htm
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2015/09/11/carmakers-promise-to-put-automatic-braking-systems-in-every-car-to-prevent-crashes/#35e3d6096ebf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_braking / crash prevention technologies technology automatic braking collision warning proven greatly reduce incidence rear-end crashes subsequent injuries Insurance Institute for Highway Safety IIHS USA studied nationwide police data revealed automatic braking reduces collisions 40 per cent percent collision warning alerts 23 per cent automatic braking reduces whiplash associated injuries 45 per cent collision warning systems registered 6 percent improvement crash avoided systems autobrake good chance preventing injuries reducing impact speed study author IIHS research chief Jessica Cicchino surprise outcome study technologies most effective 65-75 km/h range 54 per cent reduction rear-enders 39 percent 55km/h or less 25 per cent speeds above 80km/h crash rates cars made by Volvo Honda Mercedes-Benz Subaru equipped prevention technologies similar models without safety features mandatory installation devices US USA sold vehicles IIHS National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agreed in principle carmakers make auto-braking standard all new models difficulty studying systems often packaged with other crash avoidance technologies cars study equipped crash prevention technologies also fitted adaptive cruise control tracks vehicles in front maintain safe distances theoretically contribute results cruise control manually activated auto-braking collision warning automatic lane departure warning safety packages factor avoiding rear-enders rear enders cars equipped collision avoidance systems Australian roads generate reliable local data most domestic insurers offer reduced premiums models equipped with the technology /
