8 cars earn top mark for collision warning

[SpoolMan]

THE 2014 Chevrolet Impala was the only non-luxury car to earn the highest safety rating in new tests of high-tech crash prevention systems.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested cars equipped with collision warning and automatic braking systems. It gave a "superior" rating to cars that both warned the driver of a potential collision and applied the automatic brakes to significantly slow the cars.

The BMW 5 Series, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Buick Regal, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac XTS and 2015 Hyundai Genesis also earned "superior" ratings in the test results released Thursday.

Collision warning and automatic braking systems use cameras, radars and lasers to determine if a vehicle is getting too close to the car in front of it. Most of the systems warn the driver - audibly, with vibrations in the seat, or both - and prepare the brakes to maximise their effect when the driver presses them.

In some cases, the vehicles brake themselves. That action may not prevent a crash, the institute said, but reducing the speed before the car hits something can help make crashes - and injuries - less severe.

The Impala's rating wasn't affected by a government investigation of one driver's report that the automatic braking system went off several times without warning, eventually causing an accident.

Insurance Institute spokesman Russ Rader said the group is aware of the investigation but had no issues with the Impala in testing.

The Arlington, Virginia-based institute, which is funded by insurers, began testing and rating the systems last autumn in hopes of pressuring automakers to adopt them as standard equipment.

The institute said 40 per cent of 2014 models now offer forward collision warning as an option, while 20 per cent offer automatic braking. Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo offer the systems as standard equipment on some cars.

Tests are conducted at 20 kilometres per hour and 40 kilometres per hour. In the highest-rated cars, the brakes slowed the cars to 3 or 4 kph or less.

Thirteen 2014 models earned "advanced" ratings, meaning they warned drivers but their brakes reduced the speed only moderately. Those vehicles were: the BMW 3 Series, Buick LaCrosse, Lexus IS, Audi A3, Audi A6, BMW 3 Series, Dodge Durango, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Infiniti QX50 and Infiniti QX70. The BMW 5 Series and BMW X5, which won superior ratings when equipped with a radar and camera, earned "advanced" ratings when equipped with City Brake, a camera-only system.

Three models earned "basic" ratings, meaning they warned drivers of a potential collision but reduced the car's speed by less than 8 kph. They were: the BMW 3 Series (without City Brake), the Infiniti Q70 and the Toyota Avalon.

story from
http://www.news.com.au/finance/busin...-1226941069606

[GASWAGON]

Gees the technology is getting so good now but how many electrical problems will it cause.

I know the new Volvo's have an auto matic brake system as soon as you are to close to car infront.

I think they use a laser?

[1TUFFUTE]

OKay....so the "insurance institute for highway safety" conducts these tests at 20 and 40klms an hr!

Did I miss something...........

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

OKay....so the "insurance institute for highway safety" conducts these tests at 20 and 40klms an hr!

Did I miss something...........

Ye i get ya the testing speeds should be much much higher just like driving on an actual highway.......Although realistically more accidents probably actually happen in 'urban' areas rather than on highways.

[EgoFG]

We have soft close toilet seats.
When I visit my mother I drop her seat down with a big bang.

Maybe we are just better off to learn how to drive !

[Crazy Dazz]

So these systems can avoid a collision at 40kmh? Brilliant.
Maybe we should just stop morons from getting behind the wheel.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

Maybe we are just better off to learn how to drive !

While I have some sympathy for the thought … the sad fact is that we are all human. Safety technology saves lives, be that radar crash avoidance, radial tyres, front windscreen demisters, or even freewheeling mechanisms in starter motors. Regardless of how good a driver they might be, I would much rather the driver behind the wheel of a vehicle driving in the rain towards me to be in a car with as much modern safety technology as they can afford.

Interesting comment was made recently by Warren Buffett (#3 in the world’s rich list and owner of a swag of insurance companies) stated that a long term threat to the car insurance business is the rapid development of autonomous car. Simply on the grounds that there will be such a reduction in automobile accidents with autonomous vehicles that it will not be profitable to be in that business.

[geehaa]

Funded by insurance companies should be your clue. That would point to more accidents (read damage) occurring at lower speeds (probably in city driving), hence the testing speeds.

[Gaz]

We already have dump trucks driving themselves carrying 230+ton, cars should get there soon. It's odd seeing them drive past you doing 60km/h or just pulling up to the fuel bay with no one in them.


I thought the focus had this tech? or is that low speed only?

[Crazy Dazz]

I was having another think about this, and whilst I think removing morons, bogans, ditzs, etc would be supremely beneficial,
I was also thinking that this technology would be good if it could be rigged to deliver an electric shock through the seat whenever the driver tail-gated, or worse squeezed into the gap you've left in front.

An alternative would be to connect it to a reusable airbag that could punch them in the face when required.
(See I'm not opposed to new technology.)

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

I was also thinking that this technology would be good if it could be rigged to deliver an electric shock through the seat whenever the driver tail-gated, or worse squeezed into the gap you've left in front.

The only flaw in this is if they do cut in front of you, then the system will realise you're too close, and buzz you..............LOL

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So these systems can avoid a collision at 40kmh? Brilliant.

No, they said they tested them at that speed.

Volvo Trucks has had this for a few years.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ridS3...vgG2IWs8dQhVxz

[Kingsley]

Sweet, yet another reason for people not to pay attention to how they drive and why not? The car will avoid the accident on it's own.
When does the roundabout model come out? There's plenty around here that can't negotiate one of them either.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by BluFGXR6

Sweet, yet another reason for people not to pay attention to how they drive and why not? The car will avoid the accident on it's own.
When does the roundabout model come out? There's plenty around here that can't negotiate one of them either.

Mate don't even get me started on roundabouts.......and when was the last time you saw police watching for offenders at roundabouts? Never! Probably because 95% of people would get fined and cause huge pile ups pulling them all over

[Kingsley]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

Mate don't even get me started on roundabouts.......and when was the last time you saw police watching for offenders at roundabouts? Never! Probably because 95% of people would get fined and cause huge pile ups pulling them all over

I'd even be happy with a system that alerts people to move the car back into the right hand lane after it's overtaken someone instead of the driver claiming some sort of land rights deal in the right lane because he's 'up to speed'.

[1TUFFUTE]

I just had a thought as too why they don't police blinkers. There's actually no law about minimum blinks before turning or moving. It's a use as best in scenario as possible thing. So it'd be up to police judgement too much whether or not enough indicator was used........clogging up the system with people fighting the issue!
I know I've had a police suggest I didn't give enough indicator warning once......but I responded......"no....the truck was travelling way below the speed limit so I had to just move over quicker then normal". He still gave me a warning for lapping town although we'd simply dropped off a video! Idiot