One of the biggest leaps forward for driving has been integrating smart tech to make vehicles safer. However, instead of being tucked away under the hood, much of this innovation is hidden in plain sight. In fact, you’re staring right at it — or rather through it — without even realizing it. More than just keeping out dust and rain, a windshield is a critical element of your vehicle’s advanced safety system. In addition to super-tough auto glass that creates a barrier between you and the road, the windshield is also where the forward-facing camera and cutting-edge sensors that help prevent accidents are mounted.
To keep your vehicle’s safety features functioning requires more expertise than ever before. Safelite®, always keeping up with the latest windshield technology, knows how to take these features into account when replacing a damaged windshield. Here is a look at some advanced safety features that are connected to many of today’s windshields.
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1. Forward collision warning
The driver in front of you suddenly slams on their brakes. A biker or a pedestrian unexpectedly crosses onto the road. There’s a lot going on around you when you’re driving. Forward collision warning (FCW) technology uses a vehicle’s forward-facing camera and sensors mounted on the windshield to detect if you’re getting too close to something or someone. In some vehicles, it may even trigger other advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking.
According to Safelite, 92% of all 2022 model vehicles require a recalibration when a windshield replacement is performed. So, when you get your windshield replaced you need to choose your service provider carefully. To recalibrate these advanced safety systems properly, Safelite’s technicians go through extensive training and use specially designed proprietary tools to assure your vehicle’s advanced safety systems are working as designed.
2. Automatic emergency braking
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) activates the brakes without a driver having to push down on the pedal, or it increases the pressure if a driver isn’t stopping fast enough to prevent a collision.
The forward-facing camera and other sensors mounted to your windshield act like a second set of eyes telling the brakes to slow down or stop fast. Since there is no margin for error, Safelite considers all the moving pieces down to the smallest details, such as making sure your tires are properly inflated and you have an appropriate amount of fuel in the tank so your vehicle sits at the optimal height for recalibrating the forward-facing camera.
3. Lane departure warning and lane keep assist
It happens to all of us: Something grabs your attention while you’re behind the wheel and before you realize it you’ve begun to drift out of your lane. Veering from one lane into another is a major source of accidents; from 2016 to 2018, it accounted for 51% of traffic fatalities in the U.S., according to the Federal Highway Administration.
To help drivers stay on track, lane departure warning (LDW) makes a sound like a beep or a visual alert when you start moving out of your lane. For another layer of protection, some vehicles have lane keep assist (LKA), which activates automatic steering or braking to correct your path. Both of these rely on the forward-facing camera detecting the line markings on the road. That’s why it’s vital that recalibration be performed by highly skilled technicians like those at Safelite.
4. Adaptive cruise control
It’s not just about how fast other vehicles around you are traveling, but your speed as well. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) helps you stay within the speed limit and keep a safe distance like you learned in driver’s ed (tailgating isn’t cool unless it’s of the “partying before a football game” variety).
Ensuring that your advanced safety system is recalibrated correctly, so all these features work properly is a complex process. Luckily, Safelite and their expert technicians can recalibrate your vehicle’s system to manufacturer standards. When having your advanced safety system recalibrated, a Safelite technician may need to get into the driver’s seat and take your vehicle down well-marked roads or highway for several miles to perform a dynamic recalibration. Alternatively, for a static, or not moving, recalibration, technicians use a fixed target in their facility. Both are done to meet exacting manufacturer standards, and Safelite will inform you which type (or both) your vehicle needs when scheduling your appointment.
Your vehicle’s advanced safety features help keep you safe on the road. Trust only the best for expert windshield replacement and recalibration services. Learn more about Safelite, the nation’s largest glass specialist.