The U.S. Dept of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration simply handed a way more aggressive requirement that would considerably enhance a automobile’s potential to keep away from accidents.
I’ve owned two electrical vehicles to this point and, sadly, totaled each of them.
The first was totaled as a result of a tow truck driver secured the automobile improperly when it wanted to be towed again to the supplier. That mistake induced $100,000 price of injury to a car price about half that a lot.
In the second accident, the automobile practically killed me after knocking me out. It then accelerated quickly to round 50 mph, hit one other automobile, and continued to speed up right into a rock wall (which was not amused). The accident-avoidance expertise clearly failed or wasn’t enabled on this incident.
Thus, the brand new Department of Transportation (DOT) rule requiring superior security tech on all new vehicles and vans might have saved my automobile and me from breaking my again and doubtlessly saved the lifetime of anybody in an analogous accident.
This week, I’ll share what occurred in that accident, why we want autonomous driving’s Guardian Angel characteristic, and why this new DOT rule is kind of actually a lifesaver. We’ll shut with my Product of the Week, the primary operational Level 3 automobile primarily based on Nvidia’s expertise to be bought within the U.S.
My Auto Accident
Two days after being T-boned in what is without doubt one of the most harmful intersections the place I stay, I discovered myself at that intersection after the solar went down. I used to be unable to see cross site visitors nicely as a result of it was so darkish. I used to be scared half to dying as vehicles have been backed up round me. My view was blocked by a automobile on the best from seeing what was approaching from the best, and I couldn’t inform the space of the autos coming from the left.
Since my close to accident had come from the left, I leaned ahead as I entered the intersection not realizing that within the meantime, a automobile had approached from the best and blocked my passage (I used to be going straight). When I hit that automobile going round 15 mph, it fired the airbag, which knocked me out; my foot went to the ground, accelerating me into the automobile I hit (electrical vehicles have a ton of torque), which pushed that automobile by way of the intersection and throughout the road.
As I accelerated to round 50, I hit a curb, the automobile practically jumped over a fence, and my again was damaged within the course of. I then rammed a rock wall after the airbag had deflated, totaling the automobile. When I got here to, the police had already arrived, and the EMTs and hearth vans have been simply pulling up.
I ought to add that so many individuals have had accidents at that intersection that they simply made it right into a four-way cease as a result of there have been a number of critical accidents after mine. The enterprise proprietor on the nook had reported his parked autos have been hit recurrently in related accidents.
The plan is to show that intersection right into a site visitors circle ultimately, however given the dearth of visibility, it ought to have at all times been a 4-way cease.
Electric Car Problem
In a fuel automobile with out cross-traffic alerting or energetic accident avoidance, in the event you hit a automobile as I did, the automobile would have stalled even when I’d tried to ground it, leading to far much less harm and damage. However, electrical vehicles generate 100% torque from a cease, and, as I sadly discovered, they can’t solely energy by way of an accident, however they’ll proceed to speed up at supercar speeds afterward.
Had I not hit that rock wall, I might have accelerated to triple digits and guaranteed my dying after I lastly did hit one thing that will cease the automobile. So, I used to be fortunate I hit that rock wall.
This occasion exemplifies why electrical vehicles want way more strong accident prevention expertise than fuel vehicles, a minimum of for collisions which may knock the motive force unconscious.
Autonomous Car Advantage
The present plan is that autonomous automobile expertise would require a month-to-month payment to allow it (the tech will initially seem in most high-end electrical autos). But in the event you don’t need the automobile to drive itself, it can additionally include a free characteristic that Toyota as soon as referred to as Guardian Angel.
Guardian Angel makes use of autonomous automobile tech to forestall doing one thing silly like I did. It will take management of the automobile if it senses you’re doing one thing that would get you injured or killed. This expertise will be certain that the lifesaving and injury-reducing options that autonomous automobile expertise guarantees can be achieved.
However, till the DOT ruling, it was unlikely this expertise can be on something however the most costly and unique vehicles, not shifting down market till nearer to or after 2030.
DOT Steps In
However, final week, the DOT successfully mandated that the collision prevention advantages from Guardian Angel will quickly be required in all vehicles. This expertise is required in electrical autos to keep away from accidents with vehicles and pedestrians by way of avoidance as much as 62 mph and heavy braking as much as 45 mph.
While this requirement gained’t kick in till 2029 so that folks can get used to it as an choice and to permit time to enhance the expertise, it can begin showing with the approaching wave of autonomous autos by way of the Guardian Angel characteristic within the 2025 mannequin yr in vehicles just like the Mercedes highlighted under as my Product of the Week.
This implementation shouldn’t solely pressure Guardian Angel down market to inexpensive vehicles extra shortly but in addition assist guarantee extra persons are protected than in any other case would have been by 2030.
Wrapping Up
Due to my latest accident and the associated ache I’ll endure for the remainder of my life, I used to be extraordinarily on this latest ruling by the DOT. This pressured march to raised collision avoidance would have saved my automobile and my again and higher protected my life had it already been in place.
The ruling will make electrical vehicles, which may shrug off accidents that will cease fuel vehicles, a fantastic deal safer. It can even cut back accidents with different autos and massively cut back the variety of pedestrians killed on roads.
Also, hopefully, it can forestall me from ever totaling one other automobile. But ultimately, if you wish to preserve your self and your loved ones secure, contemplate vehicles with superior accident avoidance as a approach to guarantee untimely dying earlier than this new DOT mandate takes place.
Nice work, DOT!
Mercedes EQS With Level 3 Autonomous Driving
The Mercedes EQS electrical and gas-powered S-Class are the primary two vehicles accredited for hands-off Level 3 autonomous driving within the U.S. Currently, they’re solely licensed in California and Nevada, however I anticipate broader certification within the coming months.
I’m specializing in the EQS and never the S-Class as a result of the EQS is electrical, which is the place this expertise, as a security characteristic, can have the best impression, given the difficulty I famous above with electrical vehicles. The expertise, which largely comes from Nvidia (once more showcasing that firm’s management in every thing AI) known as Drive Pilot and can embrace superior collision avoidance expertise as all autonomous vehicles do.
The EQS is a luxurious car sometimes costing north of $120,000, however it’s not a high-performing electrical with a 0 to 60 time of near 6 seconds. It does have 350 miles of vary, although, making it one of many leaders in electrical vary.
Be conscious that in order for you extra than simply the extra security advantages, Drive Pilot will price you round $2,500 per yr. As a Level 3 system, it can solely work hands-free on highways (Level 4 is cities, and 5 is full human substitute). The EQS has each sedan and SUV configurations, and whereas the design isn’t as sporty as I’d like, it’s nonetheless a really clear and nice-looking car.
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan will arrive at U.S. dealerships later in 2024. (Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz USA)
Mercedes is already often known as one of many most secure manufacturers within the Midsized Luxury Car market, and the EQS, with this superior self-driving expertise, must be considered one of its most secure. By the best way, they make AMG and Maybach variations of this automobile, so you’ve gotten larger efficiency and much more luxurious decisions, however the worth shortly will get nearer to $200,000 and is probably going approach too costly for many.
In the tip, nobody needs to be in an accident, and all of us wish to preserve our households and pets secure. With Drive Pilot, the Mercedes EQS must be the most secure electrical automobile on the highway in 2024 and is now my Product of the Week.