Technology
eSafety technology can reduce vehicle collisions and save lives.
CAA encourages consumers to seek out these technologies when making vehicle purchasing decisions given the added safety boost each technology provides.
To learn more about the five eSafety technologies, please use the links below:
- electronic stability control (ESC)
- blind spot monitoring
- lane support systems
- warning and emergency braking systems
- speed alert
Electronic Stability Control
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) is a safety technology that provides built-in stability and control to help drivers avoid crashes by reducing the likelihood of skidding.
ESC works by monitoring the vehicle’s direction as compared to the direction of the steering wheel. This is done upwards of 20 times per second. When the vehicle is driving in a direction that is not in line with the driver’s desired path (i.e. a skid), or if the vehicle’s tires spin, the ESC system will automatically apply braking to certain wheels and it may temporarily cut engine power to help the driver regain proper control.
ESC is one of the most significant advancements in automobile safety technology since the introduction of the seatbelt. Transport Canada estimates that ESC could reduce certain types of motor vehicle crashes in Canada by 30%, resulting in approximately 225 fewer deaths and 755 fewer serious injuries per year.
Given its immense live-saving potential, ESC will be standard equipment on all 2011 model year Canadian vehicles.
Blind Spot Monitoring
Blind Sport Monitoring helps drivers avoid a crash with a neighbouring vehicle by continuously screening the vehicle’s blind spots.
Blind spots are areas not covered by the driver’s line of sight or mirrors. These spots are particularly dangerous when changing lanes on a multi-lane road or highway.
Blind Spot Monitoring uses radar, cameras, or ultrasonic technologies to monitor a vehicle’s blind spot areas. If a moving object is detected within a blind spot, a warning signal is issued. Warning signals vary from one system to another, but often include a visual, audio, or touch-based notification.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that Blind Spot Monitoring systems could have an impact on some 457,000 accidents on U.S. roads every year.
Lane Support Systems
Lane Support Systems monitor upcoming road markings and the position of a vehicle within its lane. There are two primary components to the system, the Lane Departure Warning system and the Lane Keeping Support system.
Lane Departure Warning:
The Lane Departure Warning uses road markings to identify the position of a vehicle in its lane. If the vehicle crosses the lane markings without signalling, the system issues a visual, acoustic, or touch-based warning. The system uses various sensors or a camera to detect the road markings and only operates above a certain minimum speed. The system is intended to operate on roads with good markings, and can be turned off by the driver if needed.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that Lane Departure Warning systems could help avoid approximately 483,000 accidents in the U.S. every year, of which 10,345 are fatal.
Lane Keeping Support:
This system goes beyond a simple warning by assisting the driver with active steering support to keep a vehicle in its lane. Much like the Lane Departure Warning system, Lane Keeping Support identifies the position of a vehicle within its lane by using road markings. The system works during both day and night and is designed to ensure that a vehicle always remains under control.
Warning and Emergency Brake Systems
Warning and Emergency Braking brings together a number of technologies such as forward collision warning systems, automatic braking, and pre-crash safety systems.
At an early stage, the system detects the danger of a driver rear-ending a vehicle in front of them, while also warning the driver about the immediate danger and assisting the driver with braking. If there is no reaction from the driver, the system activates the brakes automatically together with systems such as seatbelt pretension to avoid or lessen the intensity of the crash.
Studies show that more deaths occur from rear-end crashes than any other kind. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has estimated that the Forward Collision Warning function with Automatic Braking alone could be relevant for more than 2.2 million accidents every year in the U.S., of which over 7,000 are fatal.
Speed Alert
Speed Alert informs the driver about the speed limit of a road and issues a warning when the driver is about to exceed the limit. Through its use, the speed alert system can help drivers maintain a correct speed, avoid speeding, and prevent speeding-related accidents.
The system uses a camera to distinguish speed signs on the road and also receives speed limit information from a navigation system. In this way, it ensures that even speed limits that are not explicitly visible (i.e. within a city) will be displayed to the driver. Both sets of data are then compared with the speed of the vehicle. If the speed of the vehicle is in excess of the limit, a warning is issued.
The Speed Alert system is not currently available in Canada, but has shown promise in Europe. A large Swedish study on the technology found that there would be 20% fewer road-related injuries in Swedish urban areas each year if all vehicles were equipped with the technology.
