The U.S. Dept of Transportation’s Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration simply handed a way more aggressive requirement that would considerably enhance a automobile’s skill to keep away from accidents.
I’ve owned two electrical vehicles to this point and, sadly, totaled each of them.
The primary was totaled as a result of a tow truck driver secured the automobile improperly when it wanted to be towed again to the seller. That mistake brought on $100,000 price of harm to a car price about half that a lot.
Within the second accident, the automobile almost 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 know-how clearly failed or wasn’t enabled on this incident.
Thus, the brand new Division 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 probably saved the lifetime of anybody in an identical 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 sort of actually a lifesaver. We’ll shut with my Product of the Week, the primary operational Degree 3 automobile primarily based on Nvidia’s know-how to be offered within the U.S.
My Auto Accident
Two days after being T-boned in what is likely 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 had 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 gap of the automobiles 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). After 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 means of the intersection and throughout the road.
As I accelerated to round 50, I hit a curb, the automobile almost 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. After I got here to, the police had already arrived, and the EMTs and hearth vans had been simply pulling up.
I ought to add that so many individuals have had accidents at that intersection that they only 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 automobiles had been hit repeatedly 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.
Electrical Automobile Drawback
In a fuel automobile with out cross-traffic alerting or lively accident avoidance, if you happen to hit a automobile as I did, the automobile would have stalled even when I’d tried to flooring it, leading to far much less injury and harm. Nonetheless, electrical vehicles generate 100% torque from a cease, and, as I sadly discovered, they cannot solely energy by means of an accident, however they will 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 once I lastly did hit one thing that may 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 know-how than fuel vehicles, at the very least for collisions that may knock the driving force unconscious.
Autonomous Automobile Benefit
The present plan is that autonomous automobile know-how would require a month-to-month charge to allow it (the tech will initially seem in most high-end electrical automobiles). However if you happen to don’t need the automobile to drive itself, it’s going to additionally include a free characteristic that Toyota as soon as referred to as Guardian Angel.
Guardian Angel makes use of autonomous automobile tech to stop doing one thing silly like I did. It would take management of the automobile if it senses you’re doing one thing that would get you injured or killed. This know-how will make sure that the lifesaving and injury-reducing options that autonomous automobile know-how guarantees can be achieved.
Nonetheless, till the DOT ruling, it was unlikely this know-how can be on something however the costliest and unique vehicles, not transferring down market till nearer to or after 2030.
DOT Steps In
Nonetheless, final week, the DOT successfully mandated that the collision prevention advantages from Guardian Angel will quickly be required in all vehicles. This know-how is required in electrical automobiles to keep away from accidents with vehicles and pedestrians by means of avoidance as much as 62 mph and heavy braking as much as 45 mph.
Whereas this requirement received’t kick in till 2029 so that individuals can get used to it as an possibility and to permit time to enhance the know-how, it’s going to begin showing with the approaching wave of autonomous automobiles by means of the Guardian Angel characteristic within the 2025 mannequin yr in vehicles just like the Mercedes highlighted beneath as my Product of the Week.
This implementation mustn’t solely power Guardian Angel down market to inexpensive vehicles extra rapidly but in addition assist guarantee extra persons are protected than in any other case would have been by 2030.
Wrapping Up
On account of my current accident and the associated ache I’ll undergo for the remainder of my life, I used to be extraordinarily on this current 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 may cease fuel vehicles, an amazing deal safer. It would additionally scale back accidents with different automobiles and massively scale back the variety of pedestrians killed on roads.
Additionally, hopefully, it’s going to forestall me from ever totaling one other automobile. However in the long run, if you wish to hold your self and your loved ones protected, take into account vehicles with superior accident avoidance as a option to guarantee untimely dying earlier than this new DOT mandate takes place.
Good work, DOT!
Mercedes EQS With Degree 3 Autonomous Driving
The Mercedes EQS electrical and gas-powered S-Class are the primary two vehicles permitted for hands-off Degree 3 autonomous driving within the U.S. Presently, they’re solely licensed in California and Nevada, however I count on 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 know-how, as a security characteristic, can have the best impression, given the difficulty I famous above with electrical vehicles. The know-how, which largely comes from Nvidia (once more showcasing that firm’s management in all the things AI) is known as Drive Pilot and can embody superior collision avoidance know-how as all autonomous vehicles do.
The EQS is a luxurious car usually costing north of $120,000, nevertheless it’s not a high-performing electrical with a 0 to 60 time of shut to six seconds. It does have 350 miles of vary, although, making it one of many leaders in electrical vary.
Remember that if you would like extra than simply the extra security advantages, Drive Pilot will price you round $2,500 per yr. As a Degree 3 system, it’s going to solely work hands-free on highways (Degree 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. (Picture Credit score: Mercedes-Benz USA)
Mercedes is already often known as one of many most secure manufacturers within the Midsized Luxurious Automobile market, and the EQS, with this superior self-driving know-how, must be one in all its most secure. By the best way, they make AMG and Maybach variations of this automobile, so you might have greater efficiency and much more luxurious decisions, however the worth rapidly will get nearer to $200,000 and is probably going means too costly for many.
Ultimately, nobody needs to be in an accident, and all of us need to hold our households and pets protected. With Drive Pilot, the Mercedes EQS must be the most secure electrical automobile on the street in 2024 and is now my Product of the Week.
