The vehicles that roll off assembly lines nowadays come with some impressive and valuable safety features. For example, according to reporting from Consumer Reports, virtually all of the new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the U.S. in 2021 have integrated collision avoidance systems. The technology has continued to be standard equipment on new vehicles since then.
If you drive a vehicle with a production year prior to 2021, your car might not have a collision avoidance system. Among the many aftermarket upgrades you can buy to reduce your chances of having a catastrophic motor vehicle accident, a collision avoidance system tops the list.
How do collision avoidance systems work?
The technology in collision avoidance systems has been around for decades and is quite simple. Sensors around your vehicle communicate with an onboard computer. When other vehicles are in your blind spots, the system notifies you with a light or tone. Some systems even automatically apply the brakes or reposition the steering wheel if a crash appears to be imminent.
Are collision avoidance systems perfect?
As you probably know, collision avoidance systems are not perfect. This is true for both standard and aftermarket ones. Consequently, if you decide to install a collision avoidance system on your vehicle, you must continue to be a reasonable and responsible driver. Put bluntly, no technology available today is capable of driving your car better than you can.
Ultimately, even though an aftermarket collision avoidance system might decrease your probability of having a major accident, some risk always will probably be present.