Preserving Safety Systems at Your Collision Repair Center

Change may take time in collision repair business models; however, small adjustments that incorporate technology can make a big impactful statement about customer safety and repair quality.

A Safe System Approach is a data-driven methodology for addressing crashes, their causes, and possible countermeasures. One key tenet of this approach is accepting that people will make errors, so those responsible for designing, operating, and regulating roadway systems must anticipate them and accommodate for them.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

AEB uses sensors and cameras to scan your driving environment for potential dangers, then applies brakes automatically if any are identified – either to avoid or lessen impact of collision.

By 2020, most AEB systems will work at both low speeds and the higher speeds found on highways, backroads and suburban boulevards. Equipped with more sophisticated sensing technology, these AEBs should be able to “see” further down the road to anticipate when an accident may happen.

However, AEB still requires active driver participation and may produce errors (like false positives that cause your car to slam on its brakes). Furthermore, it may miss stationary objects or speed down in high-speed situations.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC works in concert with wheel speed sensors, traction control systems, and antilock braking systems to prevent your vehicle from skidding or sliding when turning the steering wheel, and limits engine power in case of emergencies. It’s a standard feature on most SUVs and other high-center-of-gravity vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM), Ford (AdvanceTrac) or Toyota/Porsche (Vehicle Stability Control).

Your dashboard indicator lights may illuminate when something goes awry with your ESC system, whether that be electrical, replacing components or just performing routine maintenance.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Adaptive cruise control utilizes radar or cameras to measure the distance between your vehicle and the car ahead. It then adjusts throttle and brakes accordingly in order to maintain that distance when driving at cruise speed.

ACC systems vary by vehicle model, but most provide settings for how far back your vehicle should remain from the one ahead. Some systems even let you set your preferred cruising speed and activate them with one simple press of a button.

Some ACC systems can even manage stop-and-go traffic by bringing your vehicle to a complete halt behind a stopped car and starting back up again once traffic has cleared – an option which reduces driver fatigue while saving on fuel costs.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane departure warning systems monitor a vehicle’s position relative to lane markers, alerting its driver visually, audibly or haptic means if their car veers from its intended lane. Such systems can prevent road departure accidents which are among the deadliest collision types.

These crashes often involve “sideswiping” another car or colliding into fixed objects like signs, potholes, curbs or soft road shoulders. Lane departure warning can also provide assistance via Lane Keeping Assist which utilizes steering or braking mechanisms to maintain vehicle within its lane and roadway markings.

Blind Spot Detection (BSD)

Blind spot detection systems utilise various sensors such as ultrasonic, radar and camera technology to monitor vehicle blind spots and notify drivers when cars approach from either the side or rear. This can be especially helpful for larger vehicles where visibility may be limited and reduce accidents caused by missed signals.

BSD systems can also assist drivers when changing lanes on busy highways, helping prevent collisions from taking place by merging and anti-collision braking systems that provide extra safety features such as anti-collision brakes. They often come bundled together with additional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as lane change merging or anti-collision braking features to keep everyone on the road safe.

Some models feature a “time-to-collision” indicator to warn you when approaching vehicles are close, however this feature only works if your blinkers are activated and they are outside your own blind spot.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) warns you when vehicles approach from either side as you back out of a parking space, often combined with backup cameras and optionally including automatic emergency braking for rear collision protection.

These systems operate when your shift lever or selector lever is put into reverse and sensors monitor areas behind your vehicle to detect vehicles that might enter their detection zones and help reduce backup accidents by more than 20%.

These systems work best when your car is being backed out straight from a spot, rather than at an angled angle. Unfortunately, these devices are unable to detect pedestrians, bicycles, or small motorcycles and don’t work if your vehicle is pulling a trailer or accessory.

By choosing Five Star Body and Paint you get the best repairs while saving up to $1000 on your deductible. Call today to schedule your free estimate.