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Fast disappearing are the times where the onus of car safety rests wholly on the “safety quotient” of the person behind the wheel of a vehicle. Newer advances in technology and state of the art research is paving the way for minimizing the role of automobile drivers in conveyance.

While human error still plays a big part in causing road accidents, technologies such as anti-lock braking systems, structure-borne sound airbags and innovative ideas, such as airbags on the outside, do promise a safer ride. However, the next big milestone being looked up to is where the highways, automobiles, GPS and ever sophisticated gadgetry would “conspire” to keep a vehicle's occupants safe.

Despite appearing to be dreamlike, the intelligent systems and cars will be a reality sooner than later, feel the experts.



Intelligent Highway Systems
These systems rely on the keyword “communication.” The cars will talk to each other and so would traffic signals and road signs. This is not all, as local intersections will learn to talk to government agencies and traffic control centers and more.

Moreover, unless they begin to gossip! the cars would consequently gauge in advance whether they're dangerously close another car so that they can brake on their own. Also they would know when is an intersection safe to pass through, or even go as far as to manage the steering wheel through a turn, etc.

Not just one automobile but all of them on the road would be equipped with intelligent systems that enable them to know the position of vehicles around them, or know if the road ahead is slippery. They would even process data on traffic congestion as the whole system works in tandem. Each of the cars would act as a node in the whole network.

Experts opine that such a system harbors a potential to cut down death on road figures by margins between 60 to 90 percent. The best part however is that such a system is preventive, rather than focused on minimizing injury due to impact, like the use of safety automotive accessories viz. seat belts, airbags, etc.

Headway in safety

Though the ultimate safety system is still a far cry, the groundwork is already being laid in the form of Dedicated Short-Range Communication system (DSRC). Being a subset of the RFID-technology, the DSRC is a short to medium range wireless protocol designed for automotive use. The system enables communication between a vehicle and corresponding equipment installed along the road. Some of these systems have been installed at intersections in New York.

Similarly, warnings systems such as the E-horn and E-flare, developed by Continental Automotive alert the driver either via flashing light on the dashboard or by sounding a warning. At present these technologies only alert the driver, however efforts on the part of manufacturers are underway to eventually link the system to a vehicles braking system and the steering system.

Recently, the automotive giant GM demonstrated, how even cars can talk? The vehicle-to-vehicle (V-to-V)communication system came into play during a demonstration, when a car was set on a collision course towards another stationary car, but lo! it braked in time preventing a collision. The exciting part was that the target car stood at the blind spot (i.e. on the side than in front) of the intelligent one. This isn't all, other experiments have also shown cars being able to recognize stop signs, railway crossings and traffic lights.

According to experts, the work on autonomously running vehicles is underway and that within a span of 10 years, the technology would be ready for production and would be out for sale in some years time after that. The process of development entails gradually allowing vehicles to take over the controls.

Given the wide array of advancements taking place and with many more still in the process, automobile users should also begin to think about ways to spend time while their automobiles run safely on auto pilot!