It’s a pretty well-known fact by now that the safety of a vehicle can be one of the determining factors when shopping for auto insurance quotes. This definition is influenced not just by your driving record, but also by the number of safety features and enhancements that are part of the vehicle itself. Now, new advantages in technology are focused not just on surviving crashes and maximizing passenger safety, but in proactively avoiding accidents entirely.
Advancements in testing
The testing process itself is improving, as more accurate crash test dummies are being used during testing. Dummy anatomy is now more reflective of actual humans, reacting more similarly under impact. There is also growing focus on diversity of crash test models, as the very young and the very old both have different physical characteristics that influence how much they may be impacted in the case of an accident. For example, elderly people are more prone to bone breakage, while young children have the added factor of car seats.
Increased protection
Passenger protection has come a long way in a short amount of time. Remember, seat belts in cars weren’t made mandatory by Congress until the 1960s. Other advances in technology that keep both passenger and driver safe include airbags, side airbags, and crumple zones that help move the collision impact away from those within the vehicle. Future advancements include inflatable rear safety belts, which essentially combine a seat belt with an airbag for optimum rear passenger protection.
Crash avoidance
The biggest trend in car safety technology is an overall shift toward preventing crashes in the first place rather than just minimizing the impact on passengers and vehicles. There has been much discussion of microchip-based safety systems which may eventually eliminate accidents entirely. Future vehicles could come equipped with communication capabilities that eliminate blind spots, allowing coordination with other vehicles to avoid not just collision, but even traffic congestion. Other possibilities include an electronic connection to the larger communications grid, allowing direct access to EMS services in case of an accident. In the future, vehicles may also be able to sense and remember the vitals of each passenger and adjust accordingly.
Passenger customization
Wouldn’t it be great to get away from the high auto insurance quotes for teen drivers? Some companies have the technology that could do just that. They’ve started designing electronic keys which set the car to each drivers’ preferences. The keys could then set limits on how fast the car can go with a certain driver, as well as limit distractions such as unsafe radio volume levels. These and other increased safety features can add up to big savings on auto insurance quotes, as well as safer passengers.