[SNAP]
There are many ways to
prevent car accidents.
And today, we're
going to be exploring
some of the technological
advances designed
to save people's lives.
Look at a modern
car, and you'll see
it's brimming with all sorts
of high tech features designed
to make your driving
experience safer.
But in some cases, it's
been an uphill battle
getting car manufacturers to
make these features standard.
We'll hear more about
those efforts in a moment.
First, auto technician
Ryan Pszczolkowski
showed me what a lifesaver
some of this tech can be
and why you should look for
it when shopping for a car.
So Jack, imagine you're
driving down the road,
and the driver is
really distracted.
[ALERT TONE]
Whoa, what's going on?
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Oh.
Whew.
Would you believe that I
didn't step on the brake pedal?
You're kidding me.
This car has automatic emergency
braking and forward collision
warning.
So I don't know if you
heard that audible tone
before we stopped.
Like some sort of beep.
Yeah, to get your attention.
[ALERT TONE]
It lets you know there's
something ahead of you
going at a much slower rate and
you're getting closer quickly.
So how does that work.
This car has radar
and cameras that
are sensing an object in
the road in front of you.
Basically, it knows
that you're not
going to stop in
time on your own,
and it stops the car for you.
This has to be one of the best
features you can have in a car.
Is it standard in every car?
Not yet.
This is a new technology.
It takes time.
We would like to see
this in all cars.
That's how to avoid hitting
what's in front of you.
But our next safety
feature is all about
avoiding hitting
what's behind you.
Take a look behind me.
Can you see anything back there?
Just the trees and the grass.
Now check this out.
Hey, cones.
Yeah.
I couldn't see those.
We were all the way almost
middle of the road there,
and you couldn't see those
cones with your own eyes.
Backup camera-- we were able
to see it the whole way.
All new cars now come equipped
with rear-view cameras,
and advocates are hopeful
this new standard will
reduce the amount of
back over accidents.
Before the requirement
was in place,
the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
estimated that around
300 people were killed
and another 18,000 people
were injured during back
over accidents each year.
Finally, Ryan wants to
demonstrate a safety feature
you may have never heard of.
It's called Electronic
Stability Control,
and it might be the most
important feature of them all.
Jack, I'm going to warn you.
You're either going to
love this or hate it.
I don't know if I like
the sound of this Ryan.
All right Ryan, I'm
a little scared.
Well, I'm going to
show you what ESC is--
Electronic Stability Control.
The system keeps your vehicle
on the road with sensors.
The car has a
steering wheel sensor.
There's a yaw rate sensor.
And then you have
wheel speed sensors.
And it will actually
apply breaks
at different corners
of the vehicle
to straighten us back out.
It stays under control.
The car has been modified
so this all important safety
feature can be turned off.
For our first run, I
get a firsthand look
at what it can do.
We're going to go through
at about 50 miles an hour.
Should I brace myself?
Yes.
Yes, you should.
Oh.
Ooh, whoa.
Oh.
Oh, man.
Oh.
That was pretty crazy but
exhilarating at the same time.
What happened there
was this course mimics,
you know, a child running out
from one side of the road.
I have to swerve.
I'm in the opposite
oncoming traffic lane.
I was able to swerve
and safely get back
into that lane without
the car fish tailing.
The car was very grounded.
And I have I never felt that I
was in any position of danger.
Now that we've seen the
lifesaving power of ESC,
it's time to try the same run
at the same speed with ESC
turned off.
So what's going to
be the difference?
You're going to find
out in two seconds.
OK.
Here we go.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Umph.
So--
Wow.
Thank goodness for the ESC.
What many people
don't know is how hard
fought the battle
has been to get
car makers to install these
safety features as standard.
To find out more about that, I
met with Consumer Reports CEO
Marta Tellado.
I was just at the
auto test track.
Wow.
So what'd you learn out there?
So much.
I learned how the right car
safety features really count.
We have a lot of work to
do informing consumers
about the safety
features, but we
can't stop there because we
wanted everybody to be safe.
So why is it so important
to test car safety features?
We spend a lot of time in
cars-- maybe too much time.
But what we know is that
37,000 people die every year
in automobile accidents.
What our testers have
experienced firsthand though,
is that there are certain safety
features that can reduce those
crashes because everyone
should be safe in their car.
Have you personally found the
features to be very helpful?
Every day.
Having that backup camera gives
you that extra added confidence
you need when you're
backing up, and for years we
said that that
should be standard.
Today, it is standard
in every car.
There was a time when
even belts were optional.
Of course, they have to
be installed in cars now.
Marta says it's time for people
to think about these high tech
safety features in the same way.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Marta, I just noticed you
don't have anything to drink.
Want me to get you something?
I'd love some water.
Do you know where that is?
Uh, yeah, I think--
I'm so sorry.
I think I need a
backup camera for life.
I think it's a pretty
good idea, Jack.
I'll be right back.
[SNAP]
