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A recent report published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that rear automatic braking systems may significantly reduce the frequency and severity of reverse rear-end accidents.
In its study of car accident-avoidance technologies, IIHS compared rear automatic braking features with other driver assistance systems. It concluded that rear auto brakes were a “standout feature” in its research.
In the study, the IIHS evaluated the effectiveness of rear automatic braking systems as compared to rear backup cameras and parking sensors. The IIHS estimated that rear backup cameras and rear parking sensors could each help drivers reduce property damage claims by 5 percent.
In comparison, rear auto braking was found to be 28 percent effective in reducing the same type of property damage claims. The study compared vehicles with and without automatic rear brakes, including 2015 – 2018 Subaru vehicles and 2014 – 2015 General Motors vehicles, to examine the impact of rear crash avoidance tech.
Driver assistance technologies designed to keep drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe are increasingly prevalent in today’s new vehicles. Some of the most common driver assistance systems available in modern cars include:
In many vehicles equipped with rear auto braking, ultrasonic sensors and short-range radar systems help drivers avoid colliding with objects detected behind a vehicle when it is in reverse. Systems often warn drivers of imminent collisions with a series of beeps or seat vibrations. Some systems brake automatically if drivers do not respond in time or use other car accident avoidance technologies.
Every year, a significant number of insurance claims involve drivers backing into rearward obstacles. According to the IIHS, rear automatic braking could prevent as much as 17 percent of all low-speed backing up collisions that involve rear damage claims of less than $2,000.
Given that damages from these types of accidents cost the insurance industry more than $8 billion in claims from 2010 through 2017, a 17 percent reduction could potentially save drivers and auto insurance companies billions of dollars over time.
Although rear automatic braking systems are steadily becoming more common, they are not yet standard safety features in all new vehicles. Currently, front auto-braking systems are far more prevalent. However, experts do anticipate that the implementation of rear automatic braking systems will increase as more studies demonstrate they are effective technologies at reducing collisions.
Whether or not your vehicle is equipped with driver assistance systems like the rear automatic braking feature, contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC if you were injured in an El Paso car accident. With more than 30 years of combined legal experience, our community-focused lawyers will fight aggressively to protect your rights and demand the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait to take the legal action you need to secure your future. Contact us now for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.
Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...
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