Advances in crash-avoidance systems have hit a fevered pace overthe last few years, including vehicle-stability technologyrequirements on all 2012 models aimed at preventing rolloveraccidents . New advances are possible primarily because oftelematics like GPS navigation systems and advancedcomputer-controlled drive systems. This technology is only thebeginning of many incredible things to come—but will it eliminateauto accidents?

BMW's Left Turn Assist leverages GPS and ABS. It can calculatethe car's position in traffic, determine if it is in the left-turnlane, and use forward-facing radar to scan oncoming traffic tofigure out if a left turn can safely be completed. If not,the vehicle automatically applies the brakes and emits awarning.

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The National Highway Transportation Administration is alsodeveloping a potential accident-avoidance plan called IntelligentTransportation System that uses vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) andvehicle-to-infrastructure telematics to avoid intersectioncollisions and other types of V2V accidents. For example, if twocars are approaching a traffic-signal-controlled intersection, thesystem can tell from the traffic-signal infrastructure whichvehicle has the green light and use GPS to calculate if the carfacing the red light is slowing enough to stop for thesignal. If not, it will alert the driver with the greenlight, giving the driver time to avoid the other vehicle.Impressive, isn't it?

Similarly, Volvo and Mercedes have automatic-braking systemsthat apply the brakes if the forward-facing radar senses the driveris not braking adequately to avoid rear-ending anothervehicle. Another Volvo technology—City Safety—uses aforward-facing camera and radar to identify pedestriansstepping in front of the car and will stop the car completely atspeeds up to 22 mph. Given that many pedestrian accidents occur atspeeds under 16 mph, this system will dramatically reduce thesetragic of accidents.

Several manufacturers with moderately priced vehicles also haveaccident-avoidance technology like blind-spot warning systems thatcaution drivers of vehicles and motorcycles in their blind spots aswell as back-up cameras to help avoid striking pedestrians orobjects when backing up.

These technologies are aimed at eliminating the vast majority ofcommon accidents, but can accidents truly be eliminated bytechnology? As long as human interaction is involved—andtherefore human error—auto accidents will continue. Much of thetechnology noted above warns drivers—but warnings can beignored. Technology is not foolproof and can fail even withcommon occurrences like dirty camera or radar lenses. Sowhile we will continue to see a reduction in accidents of alltypes, they will always bearound.

Statements and opinions expressed in this blog are solelythose of the author. They are not offered as and do not constitutelegal advice or opinion of Mitchell InternationalInc..