Understanding the Limits of Safety Technology

Knowing the limitations of safety technology

There’s no question that the latest developments in car technology have made the road a safer place, as many of the innovative systems created have helped to avoid countless collisions over the years. However, there are also a number of drivers who may become too dependent on these features without understanding their limitations.
Read ahead to learn the drawbacks of some of the most common car safety technology:

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

While ESC can be an effective system, it still has its limitations. If the driver is going too fast or is driving along a slippery road, ESC benefits may become limited.
ESC can only use the traction that is already available. It cannot create traction on its own. Therefore, it may struggle to help in the wintertime when the roads are icy.

Blind-spot warning

While blind-spot detection can prevent you from sideswiping another vehicle, it can’t pick up on everything. Most systems struggle to detect motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians and also have a hard time monitoring fast-moving vehicles.
Don’t assume you’re in the clear when you change lanes just because your vehicle is equipped with blind-spot detection.

Forward-collision warning

While some forward-collision warning systems are capable of detecting animals and pedestrians, others are only able to spot other vehicles.
Additionally, many forward-collision warning systems struggle in inclement weather. They may not be as useful in extremely sunny weather or at nighttime.
If you’re driving down a long windy road to get to your cottage when the sun’s gone down, don’t rely on the forward-collision warning system to be able to detect any animals.

Automatic emergency braking

You should be aware that not all automatic emergency braking systems are created equal. While some are designed to avoid collisions, others were only developed to reduce the severity of crashes. Therefore, just because you have automatic emergency braking doesn’t mean you should be any less vigilant on the brakes.

Adaptive cruise control

This may come as a no-brainer to some, but many drivers aren’t aware that adaptive cruise control isn’t capable of completely stopping your vehicle. Also, it really only works when the road is straight and will stop working on a long, windy road.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

This system relies heavily on visible lane markings in order to do its job. If the markings are faded, covered in snow or missing altogether, the system may not be able to perform its job effectively.
Realize that in general, many of these systems work best in ideal conditions. If the weather outside isn’t perfect, you likely won’t get the same level of reliability from many of your vehicle’s safety features. At the end of the day, they are useful tools, but a level of danger exists when you begin to rely too heavily on them.  These systems are designed to assist drivers, however there is no replacement for being alert behind the wheel.