It’s only a matter of time before self-driving technology will work as expected and you won’t have to drive your vehicle any longer. The fact that it isn’t full proof yet shouldn’t get you down, though. Automotive technology has proven to be outstanding in 2018, and what is in the works now is almost as awesome as a self-driving car.
1. Mobile Apps
Today, you can connect your smartphone to your car or download apps directly and take advantage of hands-free while driving like never before. You can have your playlist played through the speakers, your navigation, texting, and talking done with your hands on the wheel, and even the ability to unlock and start your car from your smartphone. There are also apps to check your vehicles tire pressure and fluid levels. Yep, today, you can have a smart car with your smartphone.
2. Safer Teen Driving
Nothing is more terrifying to most parents than handing over the keys to your teen. Thankfully, automobile manufacturers understood this and introduced teen driver technology to keep your kids in check. Kelley Blue Book reports that vehicles can now disable the car stereo or control how loud it can be played, notify parents if the car is being driven too fast, alert parents if safety features were employed due to near accidents, and even disable operation if the seatbelts aren’t buckled.
3. Get Cruising
If you suffer from a horrible commute to and from work daily, look into purchasing new wheels with adaptive cruise control. This is cruise control on steroids and you’re sure to love it. When you set adaptive cruise control, it uses sensors to monitor traffic in front, beside, and behind you. It then accounts for your speed based upon the speeds of surrounding vehicles. This means you can even use the cruise control when you’re stuck in traffic. How about that? You’ll save gas to boot!
4. Swiveling Headlights
In 2018, your headlights have peripheral vision just as you do. This makes driving at night safer for all, and your Pittsburgh auto insurance carrier will certainly appreciate that. Blinded by oncoming headlights is bad, but one reason why LED and Xenon headlights are so bright is to really illuminate the space in front of the vehicle. With swiveling headlights, you can see everything in front of your vehicle, even to the sides, and the swivel lights don’t shine in the eyes of oncoming drivers.
5. Rear Cross-Traffic Alarms
Have you backed out of a parking space into an oncoming vehicle in a parking lot? Everyone has. One new safety feature in 2018 automobile technology is an alert system for rear cross-traffic. This takes backup cameras to an entirely new level by sounding an alarm if there is anything behind your vehicle when you put it into reverse. The sensors that sound the alarm know how to see automobiles, people, shopping cars, and other hazards. No more backing over your kids’ bikes, either.
6. Side Alerts, Too
Alongside alarms that make driving in reverse super safe, technology allows gives your car the ability to sound an alarm when changing lanes. You might be distracted or oncoming traffic may be in your blind spot. Either way, wouldn’t it be great if your car told you not to proceed with a dangerous lane change? Now it can. The alarms sound if it isn’t safe to proceed. They also sound if you’re skirting on the lane marking without realizing it. No more driving by Braille with lane departure warning systems.
Finally, a bonus 2018 technology wonder is automatic park braking. You might think you don’t need to set your parking brake on a small hill, but should your car being to creep forward or backward, sensors will set your parking brake for you. Fantastic, right? The 2018 automobile technology is awesome. So much so, who can wait for 2019?
