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Study finds dangers associated with car safety systems

On Behalf of | Dec 26, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Some New York drivers who have safety technology installed in their vehicles may actually be more dangerous on the road than if they did not have it. Some experts say drivers need to be better educated about what these systems are and are not capable of.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety did a study in conjunction with researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in which they looked at video footage of drivers. They found that drivers did not seem to realize that even with automatic safety systems, it is necessary to remain engaged and alert. Technology that keeps drivers in their lane can nudge the steering wheel of a drifting car, and adaptive cruise control can help keep cars a safe distance from one another. However, unlike what will be necessary with self-driving vehicles, this technology cannot make sophisticated decisions.

According to the AAA, drivers with safety technology are two times more likely to be distracted drivers than those who do not have this technology. A 2017 study by the AAA and the University of Utah found that drivers who had touch-screen technology in their vehicles were more easily distracted.

Distracted driving is a significant cause of car accidents. It could happen because of safety technology or because of someone texting, talking on the phone or even eating or dealing with children. A driver who causes an accident and injures people might be required to pay compensation to the individuals who are injured. An injured individual may want to contact an attorney after an accident to discuss how to proceed. In some cases, the insurance company might dispute the cause of the accident or try to argue that the injuries are unrelated to the accident. Some injuries, such as whiplash, may only cause symptoms after a few days.

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