In recent years, automobile manufacturers have developed different tools to increase road safety. Those known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS – Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) have been designed to try to reduce the number of accidents on the road and their severity. According to current regulations, from July 2022, all newly approved vehicles must incorporate at least eight of these systems as standard.
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8 Main advances in driver assistance
The European Union, in its new Safety Regulations, has been marking for a few years the mandatory to incorporate some of these new ADAS to new vehicles.
Drowsiness Detector (DDR): According to the DGT, between 20 and 30% of traffic accidents are caused by driver fatigue or tiredness, which causes them to lose their ability to react to any unforeseen event. The DDR System is an electronic assistant capable of detecting if a person falls asleep at the wheel and alerts the driver to prevent an accident from occurring. To do this, the vehicle analyzes the driver's behavior through various systems. A sensor on the steering wheel monitors the driver's hand pressure; The stability control (ESP) calculates changes in the steering angle, the front view camera analyzes whether the road lines are crossed too much. In addition, there are advanced systems that include a facial recognition camera, which records head movements and whether there is excessive blinking. For its part, the engine control unit monitors how long the engine has been running to determine if it is advisable to make a stop along the way.
Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA): It controls the speed at which the car travels, limiting it according to the limits of the section through which it is traveling. A front camera analyzes traffic signs and sends information to a control unit to ensure that the vehicle does not exceed the established limits. The ISA system has three levels: the informative level, which emits an acoustic or visual signal or a vibration on the steering wheel; ISA warning, accelerator pedal becomes hard; and the mandatory ISA, in which the control unit prevents the driver from accelerating and exceeding the speed limit.
Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA): uses the radar sensors located on the rear bumper to detect any possible obstacles when reversing. If it detects that another vehicle, a cyclist or a pedestrian is approaching from behind, the system sends a warning to the driver. There are brands that incorporate additional technology, which acts directly on the braking system or a rear view camera.
Black box (EDR): It is a device that records the moment before and after a traffic accident to collect information about what happened. It is actually orange in color, to make it easier to locate in an accident. Detects up to 15 parameters such as: braking moment, vehicle speed, frontal and side impact force, engine revolutions, steering movements, accelerator position, operation of airbags and seat belts or weather conditions.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW): Warns the driver if he or she is losing his or her path or leaving the lane in which he or she is traveling. This system has a higher level in which, faced with the possibility of leaving the path delimited by the road lines, it is capable of moving the steering wheel to stay in the lane.
Emergency Braking System (ESS): In an emergency situation, the driver does not always brake with all the intensity he should. This system applies the maximum possible pressure to the braking circuit, even if the driver has only made a slight gesture, to reduce the braking distance to the maximum.
Ignition inhibitor with breathalyzer: the driver must turn on the alcolock before starting the journey and blow continuously through the mouthpiece until the device indicates it. In Spain, the limit is between 0,25 mg/l and up to 0,5 mg/l (between 0,15 mg/l and 0,3 mg/l for beginners and professionals). If the level exceeds the maximum allowable rate, the system will give the signal so that the starter motor does not work.
Belt use alert: It detects whether all vehicle occupants have their seat belts correctly fastened so that the driver can start driving, and if this is not the case, it emits a visual and audible signal.