The Role of AI in Preventing and Responding to Car Accidents
The automotive AI market was worth $3.22 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow and reach $35.71 billion by 2033. Driver assistance and other AI-powered automotive technology will likely become an increasingly common site on our roads. There are not many self-driving cars on the roads, but around 31 million vehicles had some kind of assistance in 2019.
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, an experienced Chicago auto accident law firm, shares how AI can prevent and respond to the US's 6 million car accidents yearly.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems to Prevent Car Accidents
One of the critical ways artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to help prevent car accidents is through advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These technologies help alert drivers to potential hazards and even take over some control of the vehicle if needed. Some examples of ADAS technologies include:
Collision avoidance systems use sensors to detect when a collision is imminent and can automatically brake or steer the vehicle to avoid or mitigate the car crash.
Lane departure warning systems - Uses cameras to monitor if the vehicle drifts out of its lane and alerts the driver. Some systems even nudge the steering wheel to guide back into the proper lane.
Blind spot monitoring uses radar sensors to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes that may not be visible in side mirrors. If a vehicle is detected, it provides a visual or audible alert.
Driver drowsiness detection Monitors steering inputs and driving patterns to determine if the driver seems fatigued or distracted. It can provide alerts to wake up drowsy drivers.
These assistance systems are becoming more widespread and can play a significant role in helping avoid the many car accidents caused by human error or inattention. As the technology improves, even higher levels of vehicle automation and self-driving cars also hold promise for dramatically reducing car accidents in the future.
Car Crash Notification and Emergency Response
In addition to prevention, AI is being utilized to expedite emergency response after a car crash. Many new vehicles come equipped with automatic car crash notification systems that use onboard sensors to detect when an accident happens. The system automatically contacts emergency services and provides the vehicle's location so help can arrive quickly.
Some systems can even provide details on the severity of the crash to allow first responders to better prepare for the situation. This immediate notification and faster emergency response can save lives after significant car crashes. AI and machine learning continue to improve the accuracy and capability of these post-crash systems.
Insurance and Car Accident Claims Processing
AI is also impacting the insurance side of car accidents. Some insurance providers are employing AI-powered tools to process claims faster by extracting details from photos of car accident damage and police reports. This automation helps speed up the claims process so customers can finish their repairs sooner. Nevertheless, consulting a car accident lawyer for advice is vital.
Telematics systems that monitor driver behavior also allow for more customized, usage-based insurance policies. Good drivers can be rewarded with lower premiums based on data showing they are at lower risk. The data collected by these telematics systems is enabled by AI analyzing vast amounts of driving data. Because of this, around 36% of all new cars are now sold with telematics included.
As artificial intelligence progresses, it will transform the prevention of and response to car crashes. Sophisticated AI systems in vehicles and emergency services infrastructure will combine to reduce the frequency and impact of automobile accidents in the not-too-distant future.