Luxury vehicles such as Bentleys, Teslas, Cadillacs, and Lexus are often equipped with advanced safety features designed to prevent accidents and protect occupants in the event of a crash. These innovative technologies can alert drivers to hazards and even take action autonomously to avoid collisions. For those looking to purchase a luxury vehicle, understanding these key safety features can help inform your buying decision, which is important given that 42,939 people died in crashes in 2021.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control not only maintains a set speed but adjusts it based on surrounding traffic. Using the same sensors as the braking system, adaptive cruise control slows down or speeds up automatically to keep pace with the car in front while maintaining a safe following distance. This reduces the need for constant adjustments from the driver in highway driving conditions. The latest versions even work in stop-and-go traffic, bringing the vehicle to a complete stop when necessary and accelerating again once traffic gets moving.
Lane Keeping Assistance
“Lane departure crashes are the most common types of accident, with 1.6 million car accidents every year,” says Lakeland Car Accident Attorney Marc Yonker. Lane-keeping assistance is another common feature aimed at preventing accidents caused by unintended lane departures. A camera monitors the vehicle’s position within the lane lines on the road. If drifting is detected, it provides a warning and can even make small steering corrections to keep the car centered. This reduces the likelihood of veering into another lane and colliding with a nearby vehicle. More advanced systems keep the vehicle comfortably within the lane lines throughout a curve.
360-Degree Camera Systems
There are around 840k blind spot accidents every year. To cover blind spots, luxury vehicles often have side or 360-degree camera systems. An overhead view from cameras placed around the car gives the driver better visibility and awareness of the immediate surroundings. Audible alerts or visual warnings in the car displays notify drivers if something is detected in the blind spot while changing lanes. This prevents accidents from attempting merges into occupied areas. The cameras also assist with parking in tight spaces.
Advanced Headlights
Luxury cars regularly feature advanced headlights that aim to provide increased nighttime visibility. Adaptive headlights change direction based on steering wheel movements, shining light toward the path of travel. High-beam assists selectively blocks sections of the high beams that would otherwise shine directly at other drivers. This allows drivers to utilize high beams more frequently without blinding oncoming traffic. Better illumination of the roadway gives drivers added seconds to react to obstructions or animals ahead.
Collision Preparation Systems
Collision preparation systems take a further step by making automatic adjustments when a crash seems imminent. This includes pretensioning seatbelts, closing the windows and sunroof, and preparing brake assist systems. With the vehicle ready, safety belts and airbags can deploy with full effectiveness. Luxury cars may also have additional side curtain airbags for further passenger protection.
Connected Vehicle Technologies
Emerging active safety systems on high-end vehicles even utilize GPS, 3D maps, and data connectivity. By incorporating real-time traffic and hazard information, the vehicle can issue alerts about upcoming trouble spots. Navigation systems may recommend earlier lane changes or rerouting to avoid accident-prone intersections and road segments.
While premium brands implement these safety technologies first, active safety features are increasingly making their way into mainstream vehicles as well. Overall, the expanding adoption of advanced driver assistance systems serves to reduce accidents and enhance occupant protection across all vehicle price levels. For those able to afford a luxury model, the cutting-edge safety innovations can provide considerable peace of mind behind the wheel.
