Eight excellent car technologies for safer driving (pictures)
If you're ready to trade in your well-worn 1999 model-year ride, get ready for a whole new world of driving. New cars come with a wide array of technologies that improve safety, convenience, and your driving comfort.
Multiple personality driving
The 2014 Lexus LS 600h L is one example, incorporating a number of different programs to suit a driver's mood and the road.
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The new Nissan Sentra is one of the least expensive cars implementing this technology. Its clever system makes use of the driver's own mobile phone paired to the car through Bluetooth.
Keep clear of traffic
Almost every car with a navigation system offers traffic data these days. In the 2013 Kia Sportage, drivers can view traffic flow information and icons representing specific incidents on the map, and check out a list of nearby incidents, making it easier to find the quickest route. Avoiding traffic not only reduces frustration, but also saves fuel.
Safer lane changes
Acura placed the warning icon in the 2014 RLX on the car's A-pillar. In this driving situation, a trunk is in the right lane off the rear quarter of the car. The warning light signals the driver that it is not safe to change lanes.
Virtual gauges
As an excellent example of this feature, the 2014 Corvette Stingray's all digital instrument cluster shows a typical speedometer and tachometer arrangement when in normal drive mode, but change up to this racing data screen for track mode.
Hands-free phone calls
The example shown here, from the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, offers up all the functions from the touchscreen and from buttons on the steering wheel. It not only lets the driver see contacts, but includes a list of recent calls and a voice mail feature.
The view behind
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-class shows a high-definition view of what's behind the car, and includes overlays showing the car's path based on wheel turn. Some cars add more camera to give a surround view, making it easier to park in tight spaces without banging in a fender.
Hit the brakes
The 2014 Subaru Forester employs such a system, using two cameras set at the top of the windshield. A computer compares the two camera images to identify people, cars, and objects, determining how far they are ahead and the likelihood of a collision. At low speeds, under 20 mph, the system can prevent the car from hitting something, while at higher speeds it will mitigate the damage.