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Study shows technology can cut car crashes

Autonomous technologies have the potential to reduce the number of dangerous car accidents on Oklahoma roads. While fully self-driving cars might be some time away on the horizon, a range of advanced driver assistance systems could reduce the risk of serious car accidents and the associated injuries and fatalities. According to one study released by GM, these safety technologies can be linked to significant decreases in certain types of car accidents. Rear-end collisions in particular were reduced by 46% with the installation of certain types of safety devices.

The study involved examining crash data collected by police in 10 different states. Car accident reports contain VINs, which are individual numbers identifying a particular vehicle. GM provided access to its database of VINs for 3.8 million vehicles produced from 2013 to 2017. By comparing these numbers with the crash data, researchers were able to determine which cars had the safety technologies installed.

They found that the use of automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert reduced rear-end collisions by 46% and that forward collision alert alone reduced crashes by 21%. Intelligent headlight technology cut nighttime collisions with animals, cyclists and pedestrians by 35%. A suite of safety technologies dramatically reduced the risk of collisions when backing out of a driveway. With reverse automatic braking, rear traffic alerts, rear vision cameras and parking assist, these crashes were cut by 81%.

Safety technologies offer real potential for reducing the risk of catastrophic car accidents. Most motor vehicle collisions are still caused by negligent drivers and dangerous behavior, however. A personal injury lawyer could help an accident victim pursue compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and other damages.