A future without car crashes?

More than a million people die around the world in car accidents each year but experts in the industry now believe fatal smashes could be eliminated. Some hope there could be an end to car crashes altogether.

Accidents can be caused by a multitude of reasons, but human error is at the heart of them. Drivers go too fast for the weather conditions, make unwise decisions and fail to notice or anticipate potential hazards. But what if the car could help the errant driver?

Scientists and engineers are developing technology and enhancements to cars that would aid drivers to the extent that crashes would become rarer events. Bad weather conditions and poor judgement would be mitigated by the car itself. Drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists could one day be protected from bad driving.

Sophisticated technology is also being mapped out to ensure drivers and passengers can survive even catastrophic accidents.

Volvo believe in the future they can stop cars from ever crashing. They are developing auto-braking technology to ensure cars come to a stop when they sense another car coming close to them - both from the front and the side.

Scientist Erik Coelingh has been testing his crash avoidance technology at their test track in Sweden. He has high hopes for the research being carried out at Volvo: "We believe that accidents are not inevitable. And we have a vision that in - in the future there will be no collisions, will be no fatal accidents with vehicles any more."

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source: BBC