How Does a Collision Avoidance System Work?
June 20th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
A collision avoidance system (CAS), sometimes referred to as a collision prevention system, can help you prevent or reduce the severity of a car collision. The system may use artificial intelligence (AI), dash camera, and GPS technologies to help you identify an imminent collision. If a collision is about to occur, a CAS notifies you via sound, light, or both, so you can act quickly to prevent an accident.
What Types of Collision Avoidance Systems Are Available?
Common CAS options include:
1. Forward Collision Prevention System
A forward collision prevention system tracks three things: your car’s speed, the speed of the vehicle in front of you, and the distance between both cars. If your vehicle gets too close to a car in front it, the forward collision prevention system alerts you about an impending crash.
2. Lane Departure Warning System
A lane departure warning system notifies you if your car starts to drift out of its lane. In addition, a lane departure warning system can provide real-time blind-spot detection to reduce your risk of a blind-spot collision.
3. Automatic Braking System
An automatic braking system automatically activates your car brakes if it senses an object near your vehicle. The system applies a small amount of braking power, and you can apply additional braking power as needed to slow down or stop your car.
Collision Avoidance System Features
Common CAS features include:
1. Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control leverages radar or lasers to manage your car’s cruise control speed. In doing so, adaptive cruise control helps you maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you.
2. Rear Automatic Emergency Braking
Rear automatic emergency braking uses a cross-traffic monitoring system, radar, or lasers to detect objects behind your car. It automatically applies your car’s brakes any time you back up and come close to hitting an object behind your vehicle.
3. Electronic Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC) serves as an extension of your car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS). ESC uses an onboard computer that monitors sensors across your vehicle that help manage wheel braking and acceleration. It also automatically applies your brakes and helps you steer your car if your vehicle loses traction.
4. Parking Assist
Parking assist collects feedback from cameras and sensors around your car. It then uses this information to help safely steer your car into a parking space while you control your vehicle’s speed.
5. Adaptive Headlights
Adaptive headlights illuminate the road as you turn your car’s steering wheel. They help increase visibility when driving in low-light conditions or at night, particularly on hills and over curves.
6. Drowsiness Detection
A CAS may use data about your steering behaviors collected over time to identify any discrepancies that indicate you may be dozing off behind the wheel. Or, the system may track your eye movement or car’s position within traffic lines to detect drowsy driving warning signs.
What Are the Benefits of Driving Cars with a Crash Prevention System?
A CAS uses a combination of state-of-the-art technologies to improve driver safety, as well as enhance safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. It also reduces the risk of collisions, which helps you avoid car damage and insurance claim costs associated with these incidents.
Does a Collision Avoidance System Stop Collisions?
A CAS won’t stop collisions, but it helps reduce the risk of a collision. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to avoid collisions, such as:
1. Eliminate In-Car Distractions
Turn off your cell phone, avoid eating, and eliminate any other in-car distractions. Focus on the task at hand — driving your car and reaching your final destination safely.
2. Use Your Side and Rear Mirrors
Glance at your side and rear mirrors regularly to track other drivers on the road. These mirrors are also helpful when you back into a parking spot as they allow you to see any oncoming traffic, and how close you are to vehicles in front of and behind the spot.
3. Prepare for Inclement Weather Conditions
Snow, sleet, rain, and other inclement weather conditions create slippery roads that increase the risk of a collision. Whenever possible, avoid driving in harsh weather conditions. If you need to travel in severe weather conditions, drive slowly, and leave plenty of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you.
4. Follow the Rules of the Road
Pay attention to stop signs — remember, if you drive through a stop sign, you risk a side collision. You should also resist the temptation to speed through a yellow light and wait a moment before you press down on your car’s accelerator after a red light turns green.
5. Receive Regular Car Maintenance and Repairs
Keep your car’s brakes and other vehicle systems up to date. By visiting an auto body repair shop at regular intervals, you can get your vehicle inspected and receive periodic maintenance and repairs. As a result, you can keep your car running at top levels.
The aforementioned tips are beneficial for all drivers, regardless of whether their cars come equipped with a CAS. Use these tips, and you can lower your risk of a collision.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto San Francisco – South of Market a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the area of San Francisco SOMA, including Mission Bay, Rincon Hill, South Beach, and other trendy areas
