Lane departure warning systems are designed to prevent drivers from unintentionally crossing lane markers on the roadway. The technology first made its debut in the US on the Infiniti FX in 2005. Lane assist was available on approximately half of all 2015 vehicles. However, studies have shown that a large percentage of drivers are disabling the systems. Drivers who attend a driving safety course in Texas will learn how these devices decrease the risk of collisions.
How Lane Assist Operates
Lane assist uses cameras and sensors to detect the lane markers on the roadway. If the vehicle crosses lanes without the turn signal on, the system will alert the driver audibly or by vibrating the seat or steering wheel. More advanced systems employ braking or steering intervention to prevent the vehicle from straying into the other lane. The problem arises when vehicles are traveling in inclement weather, on poorly marked roads or construction zones, and lane assist devices issue false warnings.
Drivers Say Lane Assist Is Annoying
A recent study performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on 184 Honda vehicles brought to repair shops found that two-thirds had the lane departure warning systems disabled. In a separate survey of Dodge, Jeep, and Toyota owners, the IIHS established that only 13 percent had not disabled the lane assist system. In addition, 25 percent of Volvo owners and 41 percent of Infiniti owners stated the alerts were “annoying’.
NHTSA Statistics Show Lane Assist Reduces Collisions
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that lane assist devices may reduce the number of collisions resulting from lane or road departures by 26.1 percent. The number of seriously injured drivers is expected to drop by as much as 20.7 percent as a result of their use. Vehicles with steering and braking intervention could increase those statistics to 51 percent and 45 percent, respectively. Nonetheless, the lane departure warning systems must remain operable to be effective.
Participating in a defensive driving safety course in Texas can help lower your cost of insurance. To find out more, call 247 Texas Driver Safety at 1-888-718-3927
