Volvo Cars wants to make Texas roads safer by installing in-vehicle cameras and sensors that will determine when a driver is drunk or distracted. The technology will be available on the Swedish automaker’s vehicles sometime after 2020.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 30 Americans die in drunk driving crashes each day. In 2017, nearly 11,000 people were killed in alcohol-related accidents nationwide. Volvo’s new technology could help reduce drunk driving and distracted driving crashes by monitoring drivers for certain behaviors that indicate they are impaired or not paying attention. Such behaviors include failing to steer the vehicle for a long period of time, dangerously slow reaction times and erratic driving.
When the technology senses these behaviors, it will send warning signals to the driver. If the driver fails to respond, the car will intervene to prevent an accident. For example, if it senses a driver is intoxicated, it might slow down the vehicle and park in a safe location. Volvo says that the technology is part of a plan to make vehicles that can prevent car accidents as well as protect people during unavoidable crashes. In March, the company also announced plans to limit the speed of its cars to 180 kph, or 112 mph, starting in 2020.
Someone who has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent driver might find relief by consulting with a personal injury attorney about their case. The attorney could gather evidence before filing a claim for damages. If the claim is successful, the victim could receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and more.
