Cars today are more advanced and technological than they have ever been. Many new vehicles have sophisticated in-dash infotainment systems; others come with Wi-Fi hotspots and automatic parking systems.
While many of these options are intended to impress buyers or offer something special, there are also features designed to keep motorists safer. For instance, multiple carmakers are adding new technologies to prevent backup crashes.
Broadly speaking, there are three main backup technologies that have been developed to prevent accidents caused when vehicles are in reverse.
- Rearview cameras- These cameras allow a driver to see what is behind them, which is crucial if something is too small or short to see in the rearview mirror. As this CBS News report states, all new cars that go on the market starting in May of this year will have to have rearview cameras installed.
- Warning sensors-These sensors alert drivers of an obstacle behind them with lights and/or sounds. They can be especially helpful when a driver is parking.
- Automatic braking-These systems automatically apply the brakes when they sense an obstacle. Similar systems are widely available on cars to prevent collisions when a car is moving forward, and in fact, forward collision avoidance systems will be standard in almost all cars starting in 2022. However, there are no plans to make reverse autobraking systems standard.
Combined, these technologies reportedly reduce the number of backup crashes by more than 78 percent.
However, not all cars have all these technologies, and there could be instances when they fail or when a driver ignores or bypasses them. In other words, backup accidents can still happen and threaten the lives and safety of others. Should one involve you or a loved one, you have the right to examine your legal options with a personal injury attorney.
