Your car is probably your second most expensive investment, right after your house. It makes sense that you would want to keep it safe from damage or theft. Even more important is the safety of a vehicle’s occupants. Thankfully, vehicular manufacturers and designers want to ensure you’re protected all the time, whether your car is parked or on the road.
Here are some of the best vehicular safety technologies you can employ in your own garage and look for in a new car.
Safety Technologies When Parked
According to a study, thefts related to cars are the most common cause for calling the police. These are often classified as thefts of cars when criminals steal the vehicle itself and thefts from cars, which is when criminals break in your vehicle to steal valuables. Here are some technologies commercial parking lots and residential homeowners can employ to reduce the threat posed by car thieves.
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Parking Lot Sensors
Modern garages and parking lots can employ a wide range of technological sensors to monitor the comings and goings of vehicles and people. Some commercial lots install movement sensors on the perimeter fences of their properties, so their personnel can detect any trespassers. Others can use apps for scanning license plates to find cars that have overstayed their welcome or are illegally parked. These countermeasures may be too technical for a residential garage, but you might appreciate them in a commercial property.
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Security Cameras
It is one of the most common security technologies used by property owners everywhere. Commercial parking lots have the resources to use multi-camera arrays, but residential garage owners also have advanced options. For example, miniature spy cameras are available over the internet. These cameras are small and discreet, making them difficult for potential car thieves to spot. Some of these cameras are also wired to activate only when they detect motion, saving on memory and energy.
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Biometric Access
These theft countermeasures are too specific for use in commercial settings but are perfect for your garage at home. These devices are usually reinforced locks and garage doors that only open when someone with authorized biometric access. Most common biometric access use fingerprints, but more exotic examples use retinal or voice patterns. Ensure that every other access point, such as windows, are secure before installing biometric access controls.
Car Safety Innovations
Your vehicle can never be safe enough, especially since it can be impossible to predict what could happen. There’s an average of 16,000 car crashes in the United States every day, and almost 1.25 million people perish from these incidents. Moderns cars are safer than ever because of an abundance of safety features. Some of the most effective safety feature technologies include the following.
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Electronic Stability Control
Electronic stability control or ESC is a recent development in vehicular safety. It’s software that controls your car’s engine power, automatically reducing it depending on circumstances. An ESC system detects if you’re losing control of the vehicle because of skidding or losing its stability in any way. Some ESC systems can even activate car brakes when needed. Because of the system’s significant improvement in safety, car manufacturers are now required to install it in new vehicles.
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Autonomous Emergency Braking
Although still an optional feature, autonomous emergency braking systems are now becoming increasingly popular with buyers and manufacturers. An autonomous emergency braking system employs a wide range of data input from proximity sensors or cameras to keep an eye on the road. The system will first alert you through alarms if it senses you’re on a collision course. If you can’t or won’t activate the brakes because you’re distracted or incapacitated in some way, the system will do it for you. A car with automatic emergency braking isn’t just safer; it can also reduce how much you’ll pay for car insurance.
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Rearview Camera
Every driver is familiar with the discomfort of twisting around in your seat to keep an eye out when you’re backing up. This position isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s also inefficient since you won’t be able to see the entire rear of the car. Rearview cameras offer an excellent field of vision without having you contort and lets you watch the front of the vehicle at the same time.
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Reverse Backup Sensors
Not all obstructions are at eye-level form the driver’s seat, especially if they’re in the back. Even if your car has a rearview camera, it could be hard to judge how far your rear bumper is from an oncoming obstruction. Backup sensors audibly warn you how close you are to such objects, preventing you from hitting unwary pedestrians or damaging your car.
Working in tandem, these safety features for both cars and parking spaces help make driving a more secure experience. You’ll enjoy your time behind the wheel more when you know your car or garage has got your back.
