Could Car Crash Deaths Become A Thing Of The Past? |
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Richard Craig
SubmitYOURArticle.com
February 21, 2011
Richard Craig
http://www.accidentadvicehelpline.co.uk
Sobering statistics: for every new car manufactured today, another will crash.
1.2 million people die all over the world in car crashes every year, but an article in the BBC magazine speculates that accidents could eventually become a thing of the past.
Occasionally accidents can be caused by external factors such as mechanical failure and acts of God, but the vast majority of them are simply due to human error. Even the most talented drivers make mistakes: F1 superstar Robert Kubica's racing career is now in permanent jeopardy after he crashed his rally car into a church wall while competing in Italy yesterday morning, severing part of his right hand and sustaining several serious bone fractures in his right arm and leg.
The single biggest contributory factor is excess speed, but failure to adapt one's driving to the conditions and to heed hazards also play their part in causing car crash injury.
Swedish manufacturer Volvo, long reputed as the pioneers of many modern safety features, told the BBC that they believe they can prevent cars from ever crashing again, by equipping models with auto brakes which detect the proximity of another vehicle and halt the car accordingly.
But critics have argued that such systems will merely increase reliance on technology and lead to complacency on the roads, pointing out examples such as motorists who have ended up in rivers after following their sat-nav's advice as opposed to using common sense.
There is, they say, no bigger cause of accidents than simple failure to drive carefully, safely and selflessly.
They also point out, from a more practical point of view, that braking at the first sign of danger is not necessarily the safest method of crash avoidance. Swerving or accelerating out of danger's way may be more appropriate, depending on the circumstances.
Other pioneering techniques, explored by the Horizon programme last night, include a windscreen that enhances features of the road during poor visibility and a virtual crash test dummy that will help scientists to better understand the forces that each cell of the body can withstand.
But perhaps the most remarkable development is that of the 'robot doctor,' currently in development at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. The tiny robot, featuring an image of surgeon Dr Antonio Marttos, can be remotely operated by the consultant as he relays vital information to the team at the accident scene. This aims to exploit the so-called Golden Hour, the 60 minutes or so after the initial trauma during which rapid diagnoses and actions are critical.
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