Chevrolet’s Crash Course on Avoiding Collisions

Advanced technologies can help customers in common crash situations

 

DETROIT – Even the best, most defensive drivers can end up in an unexpected crash. Chevrolet’s 2015 lineup provides key features that help protect drivers and passengers before, during or after a crash, but the focus is on new technologies aimed at helping avoid the crash in the first place. 

According to a 2012 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, more than one in four police-reported vehicle crashes each year are rear-end collisions between a driver and the vehicle they are following, Nearly one in 10 happen during lane changes made at the wrong time.

Chevrolet is using cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensor technology to help drivers avoid these rear-end collisions and blind spot-caused sideswipes, as well as parking lot fender benders and more.

“The best kind of safety protection we can offer are customer-focused features that help drivers avoid the crash altogether, and which are kept turned on for every trip”, said Raymond J. Kiefer, General Motors Active Safety Technical Fellow.

Kiefer and his team developed the patented “Safety Alert Seat” feature to help hearing-impaired drivers and persuade drivers to leave features turned on.

Like a Smart phone, a driver can select vibrating rather than beeping alerts that intuitively “tap” them on the left, right, or both sides of the seat bottom to help direct their attention to a possible crash situation detected by the vehicle sensors. The Safety Alert Seat is available on Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban.

Chevrolet’s crash avoidance technologies are designed to help drivers in many everyday situations, though none substitutes for careful, distraction-free driving, use of seat belts and child seats when appropriate, obeying traffic laws and driving sober and unimpaired.

Here are a few Chevrolet crash avoidance technologies: 

Rear Vision Camera, when backing, displays the scene behind that may be unseen by the driver or in mirrors.  Uses a rear camera. Available across the Chevrolet lineup. 

Rear Cross Traffic Alert lets you know if a car is approaching from the side when backing, such as when parked between two large vehicles. Uses two rear corner radars. Available on 2015 Cruze, Impala, SS, Traverse, Tahoe and Suburban.

Side Blind Zone Alert, alerts the driver if a vehicle is in the left or right side blind spot – before a possible lane change. Uses two rear corner radars. Available on Cruze, Impala, SS, Traverse, Tahoe and Suburban.

Forward Collision Alert, may “see” a crash situation before you do, and can alert when a driver when a crash into a vehicle you are following is imminent. Uses front camera and/or radar. Available on 2015 Volt, Malibu, Impala, Equinox, SS, Traverse, Colorado, Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban.

Other Chevrolet crash-avoidance features include Front Automatic Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Departure Warning.

Front Automatic Braking automatically applies the brake when the system may see a crash situation ahead before you do, and can be thought of us a “backup” or “Plan B” if you do not respond quickly to Forward Collision Alert warnings, or if a rear-end crash situation quickly unfolds. At lower speeds, the feature may even help avoid the crash, while at higher speeds, it can reduce crash severity and injury. Uses front radar.

Adaptive Cruise Control works like regular cruise control until you are following a vehicle ahead, when it automatically accelerates and brakes (up to moderate levels) to help follow at a driver-selected cruise speed and following gap while you steer and pay attention to the road. Uses front radar.

Lane Departure Warning can alert a driver who drifts out of detected lane lines unintentionally or without a turn signal, when traveling faster than 35 MPH, which can sometimes happen to distracted or tired drivers. Uses front camera.

The focus on driver and passenger safety is a pillar of the Chevrolet. Examples of safety leadership include:

• Chevrolet has more vehicles with a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the federal government than Toyota or Ford. Models include Sonic, Volt, Camaro Coupe, Malibu, Impala, Traverse and the Silverado 1500 Crew Cab).
• The 2014 Chevrolet Equinox and Malibu received Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2014 Top Safety Pick + ratings – the highest conferred – on models with available forward collision alert. Equinox and its GMC sibling, the Terrain, were the only compact SUVs of nine tested to earn this rating.
• The 2014 Spark is the only mini car named an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.