What is lane assist technology?
Lane assist technology provides visual and audio notifications to let the driver know their car is crossing over into another lane without signaling.
What types of lane technology are available?
There are two types of technology aids that can assist drivers to stay in their lane.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is a system to warn the driver if the vehicle is leaving its lane with visual signals, sounds and vibration warnings.
Lane Change Assist (LCA)
Lane Change Assist (LCA) warns the driver with visual and audio cues, and if no response is received, automatically take steps to ensure the vehicle stays in its lane.
How does lane assist technology work?
A forward-facing camera built into the rear-view mirror scans for lane markings on the road, and looks for the contrast of white or yellow lines against the dark surface.
If the driver’s car is getting too close to a line without the indicator being activated, the system displays a warning on the dash board, emits a beeping alert or sends a vibration to the steering wheel.
If there’s no immediate corrective response from the driver, the assist function gently moves the steering wheel in the opposite direction in an effort to move the vehicle away from the line.
Can lane assist be installed in any vehicle?
A range of safety features can be added to older model cars, and if you are interested in installing lane assist in your current vehicle, it’s worth contacting your dealership or mechanic to discuss options and cost.
Any downsides to this technology?
The most frequent complaints about lane assist technology systems are that they emit a sound or vibration even when the driver is intentionally crossing into another lane, for example to go around a cyclist or a runner, or to give a larger vehicle extra room when passing.
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