Features to battle distracted driving

Distracted driving puts not only drivers on the road at risk but also passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. In 2018, it led to the deaths of 2,841 people, according to the most current data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Automakers and technology companies are coming out with more features aimed at reducing injuries and deaths related to distracted driving. Edmunds experts have selected a few new car technologies for buyers to consider.

Driver monitoring systems

BMW, Subaru and other automakers have installed cameras and sensors inside vehicles that use facial recognition technology to identify signs of driver distraction or fatigue. Some can measure head and eye movements to make sure your eyes are up and on the road ahead. The car will then notify you to pay more attention if necessary. For cars with advanced cruise control systems, there are sensors to make sure your hands are still on the steering wheel and cameras watching your face.

Lane departure warnings

As any driving instructor will tell you, our hands tend to follow our eyes, and if you’re looking at the scenery or down at your phone, it can be easy to wander out of your lane without noticing. Essentially, these systems use sensors to keep track of where the vehicle is within its lane. If a system detects that the vehicle is straying across lane lines, it will issue a warning to the driver.

Lane-keeping assist

Often used as a companion to lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist takes the extra step of recentering the vehicle by applying light steering correction, though it’s not what you should consider self-driving. You may feel a light tug as the wheel turns slightly in your hand, recentering the car in its lane. If you have cruise control activated, lane keeping assist may deactivate cruise, forcing you to take more control of the car.