Much auto technology in the modern era is geared around preventing accidents. New cars have automatic braking systems, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning systems, backup cameras and much more. All of this tech is focused on stopping people from getting in car accidents, which are a major source of injury and even the leading cause of death for certain age groups.
There are definitely individual cases in which this technology helps. A driver who is about to merge on the interstate refrains from doing so when their blind spot monitor lights up. A driver who is backing up in a parking lot sees a child in the backup camera and hits the brakes.
But overall, car accidents have not been declining. Why is it that this technology has not actually reduced the number of accidents?
The drivers are getting worse
What many experts allege is simply that drivers are getting worse, so this still leads to elevated accident numbers even as the technology improves.
For instance, does a driver with a blind spot monitoring system just stop checking their mirrors entirely? Does a driver with adaptive cruise control feel like it is probably safe to text and drive because the car should slow them down even if they are not looking at the road? Technology can sometimes lead to this type of complacency, where people will take risks that they would not take otherwise, so accidents still happen.
Have you been injured in a car crash caused by a negligent driver? If so, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.
