Our Accident Lawyers in Georgia Discuss How an International Car Company Claims Its Cars Will Be "Death-proof" In A Few Years

The international automobile maker Volvo boldly predicts that it will produce "death-proof" vehicles by the year 2020. The Swedish auto manufacturer is widely reputed to make safe cars. While this prediction and the efforts that go into making the prediction a reality are laudable, it does seem far-fetched and nearly impossible to protect drivers and occupants from death or serious bodily injury 100 percent of the time. The harsh reality is that fatalities are on the rise in the last few years nationally and in Georgia specifically despite the increasing number of vehicles equipped with technology designed to eliminate human error while driving.

Georgia DOT, as part of a national plan to reduce motor vehicle fatalities, endeavors to reduce fatalities on Georgia's roads each year. Sadly, motor vehicle crash deaths have increased every year for the last three, and the early numbers in 2017 do not paint a pretty picture. To this point, there have been 919 deaths on Georgia's roads this year. According to the National Safety Council (the NSC), the last six months of a given year are statistically deadlier than the first half of the year. The NSC endeavors to reduce the number of motor vehicle accident fatalities to zero within the next thirty years. These grim statistics demonstrate that there is a genuine need to develop technology that prevents death and serious bodily injuries in car accidents.

The NSC espouses the idea that zero deaths is achievable. Safer cars and trucks are a necessary component to that cause. Car manufacturers make their cars safer by adding technology such as lane departure warnings, auto-assist breaking, and other autonomous functions that remove human error from the collision equation.

A safer car is only one side of the coin. Drivers need to drive more safely, much more carefully, to reduce the number of fatalities on our roads. Taking into consideration the human element in this scenario, the "death-proof" sedan could give drivers an overwhelming false sense of security. A careless or reckless driver could drive the sedan like a tank while believing that he or she could not get hurt in a wreck. But what about the other people on the road not driving in "death-proof" cars? They could easily fall prey to a reckless driver piloting a car that will protect him or her from harm by technology.

The NSC believes its goal of zero deaths is achievable through a combination of factors. Most notably, zero deaths can be achieved if no one drove while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both. Intoxicated driving accounts for almost one-third of all traffic fatalities annually. People will continue to suffer and die horribly violent and tragic deaths until drunk driving is eradicated. 

Distracted driving has become another major contributing factor to deadly crashes. Multitasking behind the wheel causes drivers to lose focus and attention. Their attention is split between the road and the distracting item. Even taking on a hands-free head set is dangerously distracting, notwithstanding using Bluetooth or some other hands-free device. The act of talking diverts the brain's attention from driving exclusively. Research performed by the NSC shows the part of the brain that processes visual images slows by 33% when talking.

Volvo's efforts to radically transform motoring is inspiring. However, the company will also likely have to save humans from themselves within their vehicles if they actually want to make a "death-proof" car.

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If you have been injured in any type of accident caused by someone else's negligence, contact Montlick & Associates today for your free consultation. Montlick & Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.

No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.

Sources:
http://www.nsc.org/learn/pages/nsc-on-the-road.aspx
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/The-Road-to-Zero.aspx
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/221590-volvo-says-it-will-make-death-proof-cars-by-2020

Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
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Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
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