This simple technology could cut deadly rear-end car crashes by 80 percent - Washington Post
Carmakers have crash-prevention technology that could radically reduce rear-end collisions, which account for about half of America's two-car accidents and kill 1,700 people a year. But to enjoy the life-saving benefits, drivers have to pay up first: The systems — which alert drivers or automatically slam on the brakes if they sense an upcoming accident — are optional and often expensive, leading many buyers to go without. Federal regulators this month strongly recommended car companies make the systems a standard feature in all new cars, much like airbags and anti-lock brakes. But that demand, analysts said, has sparked a new tension for automakers, who offer the technology as an option in fewer than half of new cars — and typically earn a few thousand dollars from each installation. [ Carmakers’ automated dilemma: How to keep drivers from feeling robotic ]. A staggering 87 percent of rear-end crashes were blamed on driver inattention, a 2007 federal study found , leading regulators to estimate that 80 percent of rear-end... The systems come in two parts: Driver warnings that beep and flash if car sensors suspect an upcoming hazard and automatic brakes that trigger in case of a potential accident, even at high speed. Source: www.washingtonpost.com
