All About Driver Assistance Systems
“Driver awareness systems” or “driver assistance systems” are becoming commonplace for all kinds of car makes and models. But if you haven’t had the pleasure of trying one out yet, you may still be in the dark about what exactly they are.
If you’re looking to buy or lease a new car in the future, here are some specific features you should know about when it comes to driver assistance systems.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Most of us are familiar with cruise control features as they have been around for quite a long time. It’s a great feature to consider for those doing a lot of highway driving. Unlike the traditional counterpart, adaptive cruise control actually uses sensors to tell the speed and location of surrounding vehicles and then decides on a safe distance from them. It can also sense obstructions and will slow down in that case.
Automatic Braking Systems
These are safety mechanisms that keep your car from crashing into other cars. They are setup to basically sense other vehicles via various technologies. The system helps to actually brake the car depending on what object it senses and where the object is. It usually uses GPS data to do this.
Night Vision
This is an interesting technology that allows drivers to see things at night via a special lighting set up that’s based on infrared light sources. These lights are typically able to sense objects that are further than headlights can see. Cameras are used to show the driver this data, since humans can’t actually see it. This is a great thing to use if you’re doing a lot of highway or rural driving at night.
Hill Descent Control Originally developed by Land Rover makers, this is basically cruise control for steep grades or rough terrain. It automatically adjusts for the vehicle based on the type of terrain it’s running over.
GPS
Most of us understand the basics of GPS by now, but what you may not know is that they are typically integrated into high-tech infotainment systems. Display screens and information gathering techniques vary between brands, so if you’re shopping for a car be sure to check and see if the GPS system and associated displays are easy to understand and use while actually being on the road.
It’s important to note that, while these types of systems are different from year-to-year, they are constantly being improved. The 2018 Honda CRV in Los Angeles is an example of affordable option that comes with driver assistance systems. Contact your local Los Angeles Honda dealership for more information on financing options for that one or the Honda HRV.
