AARP Smart Driver

CRASH AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES Perhaps the most important safety features to consider are those designed to help you avoid crashes and minimize the risk of fatality or severity of injury if you are in a crash. While we describe each one here separately, keep in mind the biggest benefit may come from some of these technologies working together. For instance, a Forward Collision Warning system working with Automatic Emergency Braking may be much more effective at preventing crashes. Another example is active driving assistance systems—an integration of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping systems, and driver monitoring systems—that can help relieve driver fatigue and stress during long highway drives. Your vehicle's crash avoidance systems will warn you or help you react to hazards. However, they are limited in how they operate, and you are still fully responsible for driving at all times. Remember, these systems are intended to support drivers, not replace them, so it is always important for drivers to remain focused and engaged. Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems monitor traffic in front of your vehicle and warn you of a potential collision. The alerts may be audible, visual, tactile, or a combination of these. Often the system will pre-charge the brakes and tighten the seatbelt. In some vehicles, the system may also close the windows and adjust the seat to reduce injury. If your vehicle also has an Automatic Emergency Braking system, it may brake automatically if the driver does not. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) applies the brakes to prevent a collision or to mitigate the severity of the collision. This feature is especially effective when paired with an FCW system as noted above. Adaptive Cruise Control maintains a set speed plus a set following distance. Forward mounted sensors measure the distance to the vehicle in front of you and use this information to slow down and speed up your vehicle as needed to maintain that following distance. This can help reduce driver stress and fatigue, especially on longer trips and when driving on highways. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY, WARNING SYSTEMS DO HELP X Vehicles with Forward Collision Warning systems are involved in about 25% fewer crashes than vehicles without this technology. This number increases to 50% in vehicles that also have Automatic Emergency Braking. X Vehicles with a backup camera, parking sensors, and rear automatic braking systems working together were involved in about 75% fewer backing crashes compared to under 20% fewer for vehicles with only a backup camera. X Vehicles with Blind Spot Warning systems were reported to have about 20% fewer lane change crashes with injury than vehicles without this technology. X Vehicles with Lane Departure Warning systems were reported to have about 20% fewer injury crashes than vehicles without this technology. www.aarp.org/drive Smart Driver Participant Guidebook 29 ARE WE READY TO DRIVE? 3 1 2 3 4 5 6

• Cover