If there was a single addition to new cars that could reduce rear-end car accidents by more than 700,000 each year, would it be worth it? If you think so then you will be interested in the results of several exhaustive studies of front crash prevention systems, including autobrakes. If you have already suffered a serious injury in an accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
Autobrake Alone Can Have a Huge Impact
One study showed that if all vehicles on the market had autobrake, there would have been around 700,000 fewer police-reported crashes last year. Studies also show that vehicles that have front crash prevention are much less likely to hit a car from behind.
A system that has an autobrake can expect about a 40% reduction in rear-end crashes, and forward-collision warning systems cut rear-end crashes by as much as 23%. Further, these systems also help prevent serious injury in the event that they cannot entirely prevent the accident from occurring.
Whiplash Injuries Should Decline with Autobrake Options Too
According to the Chief Research Officer for the IIHS, front crash prevention will not only lower the number of rear-end crashes, but it can help significantly reduce the number of whiplash injuries. Note that whiplash injuries are the most common and costly result of car accidents. They cause significant pain and lost productivity every year.
The Facts Don’t Lie: A Closer Look at the Percentages
Researchers have found that forward collision warning systems can help reduce rear-end crashes by as much as 23%. Even more impressive, forward collision warning with autobrake helps lower rear-end crashes by 39%. Autobrake also helps lower injury rates. A rear-end crash that has injuries is 42% less likely with a forward collision warning and autobrake compared to a vehicle without it.
Why are injuries lowered so much? Because even if the impact is not entirely prevented, it is likely that the speed of the vehicle was significantly reduced. The faster a vehicle is going at the time of impact, the more dangerous that impact is.
The Difficulty of Pinpointing One Front Crash System from Another
One of the issues with determining what is really helping and what is only helping a small amount is the fact that most vehicles with added safety features have a whole host of them. As a result, it can be hard to pinpoint what is helped by autobrakes and what is helped by other systems. What is clear is that these systems are reducing accidents and that should be celebrated.
Of course, nothing can prevent 100% of car accidents. If you have been injured in a car accident or have lost a loved one in an accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation with an attorney.
