When we look at buying a new car, the technology on offer can often sway our decision. Whether it’s a built-in sat-nav to help you get from A to B, or alarms to prevent you from crashing when parking, driver-assistance technology is now the main selling point. In years gone by, it was power steering and electric steering. As technology advances though, so too does our range of driver-assistance tools.
As we get closer to the prospect of 10
million self-driving cars being on the road by 2020 that was claimed in
2016, here, with Lookers, who provide a variety
of Ford
Motability Cars,
we look at driver assistance technologies which are now becoming standard in
the UK.
On a busy motorway, you often see cars
swaying slightly and threatening to cut into your lane. However, with lane
departure warning systems, you can ensure your own vehicle doesn’t drift out of
your allotted lane as an alarm will sound to make sure you take corrective
action and stay safely within the lines. Some lane-keeping assistance systems
are also available, and these go a step further by making automatic small
corrective actions without any driver input.
Cruise control has long been an option,
while driverless cars are drifting closer to becoming a reality. However, for
now, semi-autonomous driving is a feature that is available in luxury models.
For those of us who find ourselves regularly travelling, this gadget allows us
to relax on the road as it helps the car maintain a constant speed while
staying in lane and watching out for potential collisions. Although it
shouldn’t be seen as a tool to replace driving, it’s said to reduce fatigue on
those long and tedious drives.
For some, driving in the dark is a nervous occasion. While your lights can beam into the distance, sometimes this isn’t enough. That’s where adaptive light control has been brought in to be of assistance. Designed to help drivers see better in the dark and see further, this assistance enables your headlights to swivel and rotate so that the road in front of you is more illuminated, especially around corners.
Driving while you’re tired kills. While
there has previously been campaigns
to target driver fatigue, which introduced signs on motorways telling
drivers not to drive tired, some cars nowadays come with driver drowsiness
detection. It’s thought that falling asleep behind the wheel may be a factor in
10% of all road accidents and car companies have introduced the technology to
try to eliminate this risk. The system works by recognising tell-tale signs,
such as a driver’s head nodding that indicates sleepiness.
Parking sensors are a great way to make
sure you avoid any unnecessary bumps. It’s common knowledge that car parks are
breeding grounds for accidents. Stats found that Britain is a nation of
terrible parkers, with two-thirds of drivers admitting that their vehicles have
been damaged in a car park. Parking sensors can help avoid these unwanted
prangs – from your end at least.
With a series of beeps alerting you as you get closer to any close objects – or sometimes an illustration on a parking camera – parking sensors can make sure you avoid scrapes. This not only saves your car from depreciating rapidly in value but also saves any unwanted insurance claims going against you.
Not only does this help with your driving
capabilities, it can also save you money as poor tyre pressure can waste fuel
consumption. The tyre pressure monitoring systems will allow you to know when to
pump your tyres up without needing to get out of your car and physically check.
Next time you’re in the market for a new
car, see what is available to assist you on your journey. Besides automated
driving, what will be next? After all, it’s clear that technological advances
are improving our driving experience and car dealers are acknowledging this.