Coming Soon: High Tech Safety Technology

Washington DC April 5, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that cars that can brake before a crash, steer back into traffic lanes, and even tell paramedics the heart rate of passengers after a crash were among new ideas discussed yesterday at the Society of Automotive Engineers' 2006 World Congress, per The Detroit Free Press.

In the past, automakers have invested resources in traditional crash safety measures, but now are looking to fund more active safety measures, which seek to prevent crashes before they occur. "We are just at the tip of the iceberg for crash avoidance," said Robert Yakushi, Nissan North America's director of product safety.

BMW North America's GM of safety engineering says investing in a feature like electronic stability control standards could save up to 9,000 lives a year.

According to Freep, "Other possibilities include vehicles that communicate with one another and with traffic lights or roads, warning drivers of oncoming vehicles they could not otherwise see."