Technological developments are opening up new possibilities for road safety.
Many reports shared in the news, as well as on Facebook and other digital platforms, have discussed self-driving cars, but these aren’t the only innovations shaping the auto industry.
A recent in-depth report from Bloomberg Technology describes a legislative proposal mandating that cars communicate with each other on the road. We’re not talking about communication between drivers, but between the vehicles themselves. The legislation would apply to passenger vehicles and light trucks.
What are the potential benefits?
By communicating through wireless data streams, vehicles could signal the possibility of imminent collisions or detect cars approaching in dangerous situations, such as blind curves, fog, or storms. These warnings could come to drivers, cautioning them not to make a turn yet, for example. A car’s automatic safety features could also get triggered as a result, helping drivers who aren’t responding quickly enough.
It’s estimated that this technology will reduce auto accident deaths by hundreds and injuries by tens of thousands, sparing many people pain, suffering, and steep costs.
What are the possible drawbacks?
There are two main concerns about this kind of technology.
One is that it will make drivers more complacent. They may assume that because their cars are tracking other vehicles, they can afford to pay less attention on the road, when in fact such inattention can prove lethal.
Another concern is that the communications between vehicles can get hacked and manipulated in some way. What kinds of safeguards will manufacturers put in place against interference and data theft?
What to keep in mind
Regardless of whether the current legislation gets pushed through at this point, it’s part of a general trend involving technological features meant to improve road safety. It’s important to keep in mind both the benefits and risks of any new technologies, and realize that they don’t substitute for safe driving behaviors.
Should you suffer a vehicular accident, don’t hesitate to contact us at 844-Take-MyCase or through our website, www.844TakeMyCase.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, as we use our Facebook account to comment on road safety issues and recent developments in the news.
Tags: accident attorney, accident lawyer, anne arundel county accident attorney, anne arundel county accident lawyer, anne arundel county personal injury attorney, auto accident, automobile accident, charles county accident attorney, charles county accident lawyer, charles county personal injury attorney, d c accident attorney, d c accident lawyer, dc accident attorney, dc accident lawyer, eastern shore accident attorney, eastern shore accident lawyer, injury attorney, injury lawyer, kent county accident attorney, kent county accident lawyer, mary's county accident attorney, mary's county accident lawyer, maryland accident attorney, maryland accident lawyer, Maryland personal injury attorney, maryland personal injury lawyer, montgomery county accident attorney, montgomery county accident lawyer, motorcycle accident, oxon hill personal injury attorney, prince georges county accident attorney, prince georges county accident lawyer, prince georges county personal injury attorney, st, traffic accident, traffic crash, truck accident, virginia accident attorney, virginia accident lawyer
