Mar 10, 2015

In recent years, a great deal has changed in terms of automotive safety. Each day seems to bring new advancements in radar and computer technology to make cars smarter and safer. So how does this affect the more “concrete”? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has some changes in store and your Flemington Area Honda dealer tells you all about them.

 

Distracted Driving

The first phase of distracted driving is in effect almost everywhere. This is where the texting while driving laws came from as well as the hands-free device mandates. What’s coming in phase two will affect personal consumer electronics and users. It will mean requiring more capacity for hands-free and safer use.

 

Crash Avoidance

Several studies are finding that crash avoidance technology like automatic stopping saves real lives. While it will take a long time for regulations to be fully incorporated, the NHTSA has already hinted that it will make automatic or “driverless” technologies mandatory in newer models. This will primarily focus on warnings for ordinary hazards like blind spots and backing up, but will also be looking at vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology that allows cars to recognize one another over a larger infrastructure.

 

Enforcement

Because of the sharp increase in recalls in the last few years, the NHTSA is likely to step up its enforcement dramatically. The agency will be taking harder looks at companies and policies alike. They’ll also be auditing the effectiveness of early detection methods at manufacturers and, most likely, increasing the number of penalties as well as their gravity.