What Is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)?

California is home to almost 40 million people, making it the most populated state in the U.S. Most residents appreciate the diversity, the culture, and the social opportunities afforded in the state. But heavy traffic is one notable disadvantage to the high population.

The busy roads are more than just inconvenient — they’re also dangerous. That may be part of the reason why more than 3,700 people die on California roads each year. 

So what’s the solution? Perhaps Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are the answer. 

What Is an ADAS?

An Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is a combination of technological features that reduce the risk of errors made by human drivers. They’re designed to avoid accidents, notify the driver of problems, and take control of the vehicle in dangerous situations. These systems are proven to reduce fatalities. 

How Does an ADAS Work?

Car accidents are a leading cause of death for Americans. As technology has improved, so have the efforts to increase the safety of the roads. 

To maintain a higher level of safety, modern cars come equipped with microchips that connect 360-degree sensors to actuators. Manufacturers have achieved this while simultaneously reducing the car’s power usage and gas emissions. 

Popular ADAS Features

Modern safety features are more proactive than they were in decades past. Traditionally, the goal of car manufacturers was to minimize the damage created in an accident. With this in mind, innovations like airbags, shatter-resistant glass, and more became standard.

Today, the goal is to avoid an accident in the first place. There are a number of new and modern ADAS features that can help drivers to do just that.

Adaptive Cruise Control

In the past, cruise control was a feature that allowed fatigued drivers to set and maintain a preferred speed. It was convenient to use, but offered no safety features to prevent an accident should a driver fall asleep, lose focus, or have a medical emergency.

Adaptive cruise control, on the other hand, will adjust speeds to keep drivers within the speed limit and at a safe distance from vehicles ahead. 

Adaptive Light Control

Likewise, adaptive light control allows the program to decide the safest setting for the situation. If the outside lighting is insufficient, the headlights will adapt to illuminate the way. When there’s plenty of light to go around, the system will turn the headlights off without any prompting. Naturally, this allows the driver to keep their focus on the road.

Navigation Systems

While drivers once had to deal with maps or printouts for directions, now, a car’s computer system will do the navigation for you. 

Even better, high-tech systems will alert a driver to upcoming traffic patterns and suggest the safest route with the least congestion. It’s no wonder that these systems are growing rapidly in popularity!

Automatic Emergency Braking

Have you ever turned your head to say something to a child in the backseat, only to return your focus to the road and discover that you are barreling toward a row of stopped cars? Automatic emergency braking is designed to prevent these kinds of accidents. 

This technology uses radar, video, and other sensors to detect an upcoming object. If there is a risk of collision, the system will communicate with the car’s computer to hit the brakes. 

As you might imagine, this system works hand-in-hand with a vehicle’s adaptive cruise control.

Drowsy Driver Detection

This ADAS feature monitors a driver’s behavior to watch for signs of drowsiness. There are approximately 70 signals that are monitored by the system’s algorithms. If drowsy driving is detected, a warning symbol and ping will suggest that the driver pulls over.

Blind Spot Monitoring

Most new cars come equipped with sensors mounted to the bumper and side mirrors. If these sensors detect that an object is within a driver’s blind spot, they’ll display a notification, usually a light or symbol. That way, the driver will know to wait before switching lanes or passing. 

What is an advanced driver assistance system? Now, you know! These kinds of features have become the industry standard for safe driving. So if you have a car with one or more of these systems, you just might be less likely to get in an accident.

Since 1992, our personal injury attorneys at the Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers, APC. have been fighting for the people. Now, when those injured in automobile accidents need financial help, or for the families that need to know that the loss of a loved one could have been prevented, there is a personal injury law firm in San Diego that is on their side.

If you or a family member has been injured, call the lawyers at Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers, APC. There’s never been a better time than right now to speak to a personal injury attorney—FREE of charge. Call us at 858-551-2090 or request a free consultation online today!