A few decades ago, the European Union set out to curb the number of road accidents. During this time, a number of provisions defining car safety standards were adopted, which helped save thousands of road users' lives.

Although the main role and responsibility for the actions carried out are still assumed by the drivers, in order to facilitate their part, car manufacturers are installing technologies that help to avoid collisions with pedestrians in models of different sizes, from the compact Citroen C4 to the limousine S-Class Mercedes-Benz or cyclists, do not deviate from the driving lane or avoid unintentionally swerving into another car.

Assistive technologies can be useful not only in big cities, where the driving speed is not high, but also on country roads or long trips, where drivers have to face various challenges.


The road sign recognition system is a zealous helper not only in big cities

Most modern cars currently have a road sign recognition system as standard equipment, but their performance is not always the same. Some systems work based on data stored in navigation maps, while more advanced counterparts use the front video camera.

A video camera installed at the top of the windshield constantly monitors the situation in front of the car and records every road sign it passes. After the system has scanned the observed road sign, the corresponding sign information is displayed on the instrument panel as a visual message. If at that time the driver is using the automatic speed control system, a proposal to automatically adjust the speed to the specified requirements lights up on the dashboard.

 "At the wheel, we are not always able to be absolutely attentive. Previously, the GPS system informed us about the missed road sign, and now such systems installed in cars remind us how to drive better", - driving instructor, traffic safety specialist Artūras Pakėnas sees the advantage of the system.


Trailer stability control for those transporting larger loads

Longer-than-usual trips are usually associated with vacations or active leisure time. The belongings of all family members quickly fill the trunk of the car, and the additionally ordered tow hook is useful for taking a boat, a couple of motorcycles or even a mobile home to the desired location.

Modern cars with a tow hitch also have intelligent trailer stability control systems. In the past, this kind of technology was installed in heavy-duty pickup trucks or light commercial vehicles, whose purpose is to transport as much cargo as possible. However, such systems are now also typical of much more compact cars with few connections to cargo transportation, such as the Citroen C4.

The technology installed in the French model works together with the electronic stability system. An electronic brain using sensors monitors whether the towed trailer maintains the exact direction of travel and does not start to wobble from one side to the other. In the event of any suspicious changes in the trailer's trajectory, the system automatically applies the car's brakes to maintain stability.


Automatic speed and distance control for less fatigue

Although the higher maximum speed limit on highways allows you to cover long distances much faster, constant high speed driving for an hour or two can be just as tiring for the driver as maneuvering in the city.

In order to facilitate long journeys, more than two decades ago car manufacturers began to install automatic speed and distance control systems in high-end wheels, partially taking control of the car from the driver. Of course, the driver must remain the captain of the ship, but such a system installed in the car maintains a safe distance from the other road participant, maintains an even set speed or, if necessary, reduces it.

Currently, the additional "Stop & Go" function, which is being installed in more and more moderately priced cars, is useful not only for residents of big cities. If there is a traffic jam on the highway, a car with an activated automatic cruise control system can stop itself, automatically move from its position in a few seconds and follow the vehicle in front.

The driver only needs to hold the steering wheel and follow the information on the dashboard. Previously, this technology was used in cars costing at least 40,000 euros, and today such a system can be found in the hatchbacks Citroën C4 or Peugeot 308, which cost up to 25,000 euros, or in the electric car Volkswagen ID.3, which costs 37,000 euros.

Traffic safety specialist A. Pakėnas does not hide that the automatic speed control system is one of those attributes that he gladly uses every time he goes outside the city.

 "On the highway, I always put the cruise control on. One of my cars has traditional cruise control and the other has adaptive cruise control. Using an active speed-adjusting system causes a bit of mistrust, but I can see that this technology is effective," says the interviewer.


Fatigue warning - a call to stop and rest

One of the latest technologies that comes in handy on a longer journey is the driver alertness and fatigue warning system. It was introduced to help drivers avoid road accidents.

According to various studies, about 20 percent of all traffic accidents are related to fatigue. However, some drivers are very often guided by a gut feeling that they will have enough strength to overcome a certain number of kilometers and think about rest too early.

A. Pakėnas believes that the driver's intuition, whispering that he has more than enough power to drive the car, may be wrong.

"A person may feel fatigue, but they misunderstand it. The fatigue warning system may not make you stop immediately, but it will prompt you to think about your well-being behind the wheel, make you pay attention to it and evaluate it. Such an additional reminder is only good," emphasizes the specialist.

For example, the driver alertness and fatigue system installed in Citroën cars is equivalent to two support systems. The driver fatigue system starts to work if the driver drives for more than two hours at a speed of more than 60 km/h. speed Then a reminder to take a break appears on the dashboard.

Meanwhile, the driver alertness monitoring system monitors the behavior of the person behind the wheel on the road. If the system detects repeated deviations from the driving trajectory, it warns the person of decreased vigilance. This may be an indication that he should stop and take a break.


Automatic light systems help you drive safer at night


Advances in automotive lighting technology over the past two decades are best seen in real-world conditions. Lights with light-emitting diode or LED matrix technology illuminate several times the area of ​​the road than halogen lights, which are already disappearing, and their efficiency makes driving much safer even in extremely bad weather conditions.

On a long trip or just driving in the countryside at night, drivers of modern cars can use the automatic low- and high-beam switching system. The basis of this technology is a video camera installed in the windshield in front of the rear view mirror, which captures the headlights of vehicles approaching or driving in the opposite direction, and the system automatically switches the lights of the LED headlights from high beam to low beam.

When the system no longer detects the headlights of another car, the high beams are automatically switched on again, so you can forget about manually changing the lights while driving, feel more relaxed and avoid unintentionally dazzling other road users.