Auto impact

This feature continually adjusts the vehicle's speed to maintain a set minimum following distance.

In this feature, sensors monitor the side of the vehicle and alert the driver when other vehicles approach blind spots through a visible or audible alert. Some systems also activate brake or steering controls. Research demonstrates blind spot detection reduces lane-change crashes by 14 percent.

These unique headlights pivot based on steering wheel movement and vehicle speed in the direction of travel to better illuminate the dark, curved roads. A HLDI study of adaptive headlights offered on Acura, Mazda, Mercedes, and Volvo models showed they lowered property damage liability claims by as much as 10 percent.

This system use sensors, like cameras, radar, or light detection and ranging to detect when a vehicle is getting too close to one in front of it and issues a warning and pre-charge the brakes If the driver doesn't respond, most vehicles will automatically. Some systems recognize pedestrians, cyclists, and animals. Forward collision warning reduces front-to-rear crashes by 27 percent and increases to 50 percent when combined with auto braking.

Twenty automakers voluntarily committed to standardizing the technology by 2020. This represents 99 percent light vehicle sales in the United States.

These systems use cameras to track the vehicle's lane position, alerting the driver if the vehicle is in danger of straying across lane markings without the turn signal being activated. Some systems have been known to use haptic warnings, such as steering wheel or seat vibration, audible and/or visual warnings or light braking/minor steering adjustments.

Lane departure warning systems reduce single-vehicle, sideswipe, and head-on crashes by 11 percent and injurious crashes by 21 percent.

Some systems warn the driver if objects are in the way or crossing behind the vehicle when it is in reverse while others automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision.

Rear view cameras reduce backing crashes by 17% and increase to 78% when combined with rear view camera and parking sensors. Rear cross-traffic alerts reduce backing crashes by 22 percent.

These prototype safety systems enable communication between vehicles and roadway infrastructure using a wireless network.

With V2V communication, vehicles transmit information to other vehicles. If the lead vehicle in a long chain suddenly brakes, V2V systems transmit to other vehicles in the chain and alert other drivers.

With V2I communication, vehicles communicate with roadway infrastructure. For example, highway systems could detect a vehicle’s location within a lane and alert the vehicle if it drifts. In urban environments, traffic signals could alert vehicles of a change so drivers are prepared to stop.

NHTSA estimates that two V2V functions, intersection movement assist and left turn assist together could prevent nearly 600,000 crashes and around 1,300 fatalities annually when fully deployed across the light vehicle fleet.

Information from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

When a passenger is trapped in a vehicle following a collision, medical attention can’t begin until first responders get to the injured occupant.

State Farm gives some vehicles that have been declared total losses to local fire departments for extrication training purposes. This allows them to test techniques for extricating passengers from vehicles, including vehicles with newer technology and hybrid and electric models.

Take a few minutes to see an auto extrication demonstration.