The National Transportation Safety Board is once again urging car manufacturers to standardize the inclusion of crash avoidance systems in all commercial and passenger vehicles. The federal agency has made repeated calls for the standardization of these features, but it is suggested that a lack of incentives and insufficient public awareness has hindered acceptance of these suggestions.
Safety systems can help people avoid accidents in a variety of ways. Some involve alerts, letting people know when they are about to be in a crash or are drifting out of their lane. Other systems will even assist the driver in braking to avoid an accident or brake automatically. When asked about the NTSB’s call for more safety systems, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers did not respond, but the industry trade group has indicated in the past the decision should be left up to consumers. While collision avoidance systems can add to the cost of a new automobile, the head of the NTSB has said that, just as is the case of seat belts, the cost of such safety equipment should not be passed down to buyers.
Based on research recently released by the NTSB, each year, thousands of lives could be saved and injuries could be prevented by installing these systems in all automobiles. Additionally, in more than 80 percent of rear-end collisions, which claim the lives of approximately 1,700 people and injure nearly 500,000 people annually, the severity could be mitigated.
Although vehicle safety systems can help someone prevent an accident, not all vehicles have them, and not all accidents can be avoided. Someone who has been injured in a crash caused by another driver who was distracted or was otherwise negligent may wish to speak to an to determine if a personal injury lawsuit could be an appropriate remedy to recoup compensation for the damages that have been caused.
