Know Your Vehicle for National Safety Month

For National Safety Month, we’ve got our eyes on the road. Did you know 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021? That’s the highest total in 16 years, but it can be reduced.

Continental launched its #SafelyThere campaign because technology exists right now to save lives, and people need to know about it. We’re focused on achieving Vision Zero: A future with zero crashes, traffic injuries, and fatalities. Technology can help us get there.

Automotive safety technologies present tremendous life-saving potential. Often referred to as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), these technologies aim to make driving safer, but can sometimes be confusing because of the wide range of names they are called. We want to make sure people are aware of the safety benefits offered by their vehicles.

You can learn more about advanced safety technologies by visiting our Technology Translator. Examples of life-saving technology proven to save lives and reduce injuries include:

• Adaptive Lighting (AKA Intelligent Headlights, Dynamic Light System, and Curve-Adaptive Headlights). According to IIHS, about half of traffic deaths occur either in the dark or at dawn or dusk. Adaptive lighting helps ensure proper light conditions so drivers can stay focused on the road no matter the environment.
• Automatic Emergency Braking (AKA Collision Mitigation, Collision Avoidance, Brake Assist). According to IIHS, systems with automatic braking reduce rear-end crashes by about 40 percent on average. AEB alerts drivers of dangerous situations and automatically activates to avoid crashes.
• Lane Keeping Support (AKA Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Assist). Crashes caused by lane departures are among the deadliest collisions. According to studies, nearly 13,000 people died in crashes where a passenger vehicle left the lane unintentionally over the course of just one year. LKS helps to alert a driver and steer the vehicle back to the center of the lane if it begins to drift.

These are just three examples of the life-saving potential offered by automotive safety technologies. Learn more here about the technologies available right now to help you get #SafelyThere.