Lane-Keeping Technology Could Make Roads Safer

What if your car told you that it was time to take a break? Imagine if you were driving along and suddenly a voice piped up, "Warning—rest now!" Drivers of new vehicles made by manufacturers like Ford may find themselves hearing similar messages in the near future.

Lane Departure Prevention

The safety measure, often called "lane-keeping technology," uses cameras on places like the car's rear-view mirror to sense lane markings. If the car drifts unexpectedly across a lane without a turn signal present, the car will warn the driver to rest by issuing a message on the display panel and vibrating the car's steering wheel. If the drift continues, the car will use the power steering to bring the car back to the center lane.

For some, it is exciting news of yet another feature that will help drivers stay safe. Drivers today may decide to "tough it out" by driving while physically exhausted or with little to no sleep, which can lead to car accidents with dangerous or even fatal results. Others, however, argue that the feature may encourage drivers to engage in even riskier behavior, such as using cell phones or tending to other things in the car, assuming that the car will correct any drift and help them drive.

Even with these concerns in mind, the majority is excited over the next step toward safer roadways. Measures like lane-keeping technology are small things that could prove to be invaluable, even if only one auto accident or injury is prevented. It is unclear how much it will cost to put the feature in a car or when it may become widely available, but Ford plans to roll it out as an option for certain 2013 models.

Updated January 2016

Lane Keeping Assist is being implemented in a wider variety of 2015 models, with a greater variety in brand and availability expected in the future. More convenient settings are being made available for warning systems in these models, which while extremely helpful for drowsy or distracted drivers, often present an annoyance to alert and active drivers.

Here are 10 of the currently most popular vehicles with lane-keep systems:

• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• 2014 Honda Accord
• 2014 Nissan Altima
• 2014 Ford Fusion
• 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
• 2014 Toyota RAV4
• 2015 Hyundai Sonata
• 2014 BMW 328i
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• 2015 Acura TLX

Safety-conscious drivers everywhere can rejoice at these technological advances. As manufacturers continue to tweak safety systems and the demand for heightened vehicle safety measures grows, safety systems such as Lane Keeping Assist will become more and more widespread.

In the meantime, drivers still make mistakes, and even Lane Keeping Assist systems can’t prevent every single accident. For guidance regarding a car accident, contact The McClellan Law Firm.