Electronic Driver Assistants: Can You Trust Them With Your Life?

Electronic Driver Assistants

Most modern cars have a list of mandatory equipment: automatic braking systems, lane-keeping, automatic activation of alarms in case of an accident and heavy braking, driver fatigue control, a rearview camera or parking sensors, and a device that captures movement parameters.

But many features are expensive and which drivers, having paid, do not use. Let’s figure out together with car gurus from Indy Auto Man, Indianapolis, how significant the security equipment is and its potential capabilities.

Auto Assistants – the Possibilities of a Modern Driver

The electronic assistants in the best commuter cars are ready to assume driving in a dangerous situation thanks to numerous sensors and actuators controlled by artificial intelligence.

Intelligent Cruise Control 

The system maintains a certain speed and distance from the vehicle in front. Acceleration is controlled both in traffic jams and in full motion. In some brands, the system has the function of suppressing erroneous acceleration.

Blind Spot Monitor

The driver can fail to detect a car in dead zones, not to mention a motorbike. The blind spot system calculates the collision threat thanks to radars and cameras and warns of danger.

Volvo was the first to use such a blind spot scanner. It was built on LEDs of side mirrors and signaled the car in the next row.

Automatic Braking Systems

ABS can determine an obstacle in front of the car, including one that suddenly appeared, using the radar and camera. The system makes a decision and takes control.

Although, the situation can become more complicated if dirt and water cover the cameras and sensors. Snow and rain prevent the electronics from forming a clear picture of what is happening around the car, and then the driver needs to take control into his own hands. Otherwise, this can lead to an accident.

Lane Departure Tracking Systems (Lane Keeping)

The first versions of the system allowed the car to move within two lanes. More modern assistants make the car stay exactly in the center of the row.

But even the most advanced retention system can be completely useless:

  • Not all roads in the US are marked. 
  • After several years of work, inaccuracy errors can appear and cause drift. It, in turn, becomes the cause of misleading other drivers and is already fraught.

Automatic Parking System

According to the Indy Auto Man statistics, many used car owners in Indianapolis, getting this option in the model, do not use it. Despite the auto parking feature looking very attractive and futuristic, most drivers prefer controlling their vehicles themselves. And as in the case of the accident, the responsibility is on the car owner, it’s a clever decision. 

Driver Fatigue Recognition

There is a lot of controversy about this system. They say that an alert like “stop, have a break, and drink coffee” is not a panacea for fatigue. Drivers who rarely go on long trips and move around big cities like Indianapolis generally consider the system to be money thrown away. But for a long drive, this is a useful irritant, helping not to sleep on the road. 

Gesture Control

This function is most often used to demonstrate the model’s capabilities to someone. At the same time, it is more convenient for many people to control the media system with the usual press. According to surveys of American drivers, 40% are dissatisfied with the operation of sensors and consider it useless.

High Beam Control

This assistant takes care of the owner of the car but also the oncoming traffic drivers. The on-off high beam is regulated automatically, recognizing light from afar (300 meters or more).

Another handy feature is object recognition in the dark. It can warn the driver about a pedestrian or an animal even before being illuminated by headlights. The first-night vision system was launched by Cadillac back in 1999.

Are There any Downsides to Electronics?

  • People relying on electronics begin to relax and stop controlling the road. According to statistics, a person needs an average of a month to stop paying maximum attention to the road.
  • There is also the concept of natural wear and tear – that is, over the years, electronics lose their original accuracy. Therefore, you need to periodically visit the service station to check and adjust the equipment.
  • Other problems that owners of sophisticated electronics have are the inability to reinstall the software or the programs starting to reboot at the most inopportune moment while driving or parking.
  • There are also many issues with the rear cameras, which do not turn on or take time to respond. And this increases the risk of a car colliding with obstacles or other vehicles.

Despite the opinions of many drivers that it is impossible to relax behind the wheel, nevertheless, with the help of electronic assistants, trips become calmer and safer. Indy Auto Man invites everyone who wants to get behind the wheel of a car equipped with advanced safety features for a test drive in Indianapolis and get the most out of driving.

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I believe in creativity and try to express the same with my words. I enjoy writing and keeping myself in touch with the books.