Car Safety Of the Future
[WORDS]
♧ Electronic Stability Control : n. 전자 차 자세 제어장치
♧ rollover : n. 자동차의 전복
♧ crash : n. 자동차의 충돌, 비행기의 추락
♧ Virginia Tech
♧ activate : v. 활성화하다, 반응하다
♧ intersection : n. 교차로, 사거리
♧ UC Berkeley
♧ broadside : n. 현측, 측면
♧ address : v. 문제 등을 다루다, 처리하다
♧ deadly : a. 치명적인
♧ claim : 목숨을 빼앗다, 주장하다
♧ Infinity
♧ drift into : 무의식중에 ~로 빠지다, 무작정 나아가다, 표류하다
♧ lane : n. 차선, 코스
♧ steer : v. 조종하다, 나아가게 하다
♧ blind spot : n. 자동차 운전자의 사각지대, 맹점, 깨닫지 못하는 약점, 난시청 지역
♧ minimize : v. 최소화하다
We reported earlier in this broadcast that the government has ordered Electronic Stability Control be put in all new automobiles sold in the U.S. But that anti-rollover technology is just the beginning. So, we thought we'd also take a closer look at tonight at the even more advanced systems for cars now in development. As mentioned, car crashes kill 43,000 people in this country every year and injure 2.6 million. Many of those crashes can be prevented, as ABC's Lisa Stark reports.
What if a road and a car could actually talk to each other, to help prevent accidents? At Virginia Tech, they are testing just that. Sensors on the road side communicate with sensors buried in the car's bumper. If you're approaching a signal that's about to turn red and don't slow down, a warning light and an alarm is activated.
"Once drivers get the warning, they will, they'll stop at the intersection, right before they reach crossing traffic."
At UC Berkeley, they're testing a system to alert drivers if it's dangerous to turn left.
"There is a car coming at you. Is it safe to turn left? Will you get broadsided? This will address that."
The hope is that technology like this will help reduce deadly crashes at intersections. Those crashes claim some 8,000 lives a year. Automakers are already adding devices to help drivers avoid accidents. Infinity has the system that warns if you're drifting into another lane, and help steer the car back. Volvo sounds an alarm if drivers get dangerously close to a car up ahead.
Want to change lanes? General Motors will soon offer a warning if there is a vehicle in your blind spot. Both GM and Ford are also testing wireless systems to allow cars to communicate. The car in front of you could warn your vehicle. 'I'm slowing down. You'd better too.'
"Active safety gives us the possibility to completely avoid accidents or really minimize the damage."
Some say automakers have to be careful, not to confuse drivers.
"A bell goes off here, a buzzer goes off here and they're close to each other. Does the driver know what to respond to, or do they get confused."
But the government and auto manufacturers are convinced that warning systems could ultimately cut accidents in half.
Lisa Stark, ABC news, Blacksburg, Virginia.