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Volvo announces safety technology to make roads safer

On Behalf of | Apr 23, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

New York drivers who are intoxicated when they get behind the wheel may be prevented from causing crashes in some types of vehicles in the near future. Volvo announced on March 20 that starting in the early 2020s, its vehicles would come equipped with cameras and sensors that would detect signs of drunk driving and take action.

This comes on the heels of an earlier announcement by the company that starting next year, none of its vehicles would be able to exceed a speed limit of 112 miles per hour. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2017, 10,874 people died in crashes related to drunk driving and that an average of nearly 30 fatalities per day can be attributed to being intoxicated while behind the wheel. Volvo says it wants to take steps to prevent these kinds of accidents altogether.

The new safety technology will monitor driver behavior using cameras and sensors. When drivers start weaving, when their reaction time slows significantly, or when they close their eyes or fail to steer for an extended period of time, the car may take action. It might slow down or stop altogether. The safety technology might also prevent crashes caused by distracted drivers since they may engage in these behaviors as well.

Motor vehicle accidents caused by drunk or distracted drivers can often lead to catastrophic injuries. Compensation may be critical for people who have suffered these types of injuries since some of them could require months of rehabilitation or lifelong care. If compensation is not forthcoming from the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident, victims might want to meet with an attorney to learn how best to proceed.