Fashionable automobiles are smarter, sleeker, and extra high-tech than ever earlier than. With every new mannequin yr, drivers are promised enhanced security, luxurious, and comfort because of the newest in automotive innovation. However what if a few of these options, regardless of their futuristic attraction, are literally placing you in hurt’s manner?

Simply because one thing sounds superior doesn’t imply it’s efficient, dependable, and even protected. The truth is, sure high-end automobile options can create a false sense of safety, distract you whereas driving, or fail at vital moments. And if you’re going 70 mph on a freeway, a small tech failure can turn out to be deadly.

Listed here are seven common automobile options that may sound fancy on the dealership however might truly improve your danger on the highway.

1. Autonomous Driving Methods Aren’t Absolutely Autonomous

Tesla’s “Autopilot” and different related methods have made headlines for his or her hands-free driving capabilities. However regardless of the title, these options aren’t really autonomous. They nonetheless require the driving force’s full consideration and the power to take over at any second.

The issue is that many drivers get lulled right into a false sense of safety. They belief the system an excessive amount of—checking their telephones, closing their eyes, and even napping. In the meantime, these methods can fail to detect surprising obstacles, lane adjustments, or pedestrians.

When drivers over-rely on partial automation, they react too slowly in emergencies. A number of deadly crashes have already occurred as a result of individuals thought their vehicles might do greater than they really might.

2. Overly Complicated Touchscreens Distract Extra Than They Assist

In the present day’s vehicles are loaded with big infotainment screens, modern digital dashboards, and touch-sensitive controls for all the things from temperature to quantity. Whereas these options look nice and cut back bodily buttons, they arrive with a serious draw back: distraction.

Touchscreens usually require a number of steps to do one thing easy, like adjusting the air con or altering the radio station. Meaning extra time along with your eyes off the highway and your mind occupied with non-driving duties.

Research have proven that touchscreen interfaces in vehicles might be as distracting as texting. Not like conventional knobs and buttons, you possibly can function by really feel, these screens require visible affirmation, resulting in extra accidents and close to misses.

3. Keyless Ignition Can Result in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Keyless ignition methods are handy. You can begin your automobile with the push of a button whereas the important thing fob stays in your pocket. However this characteristic has a lethal flaw: it’s too straightforward to neglect the engine remains to be operating.

Many automobiles right this moment are so quiet, particularly hybrids, that drivers by accident go away the automobile operating of their storage. Over time, carbon monoxide builds up, which may kill individuals silently and rapidly.

Dozens of deaths and tons of of accidents have been linked to this issue. With out an computerized engine shutoff or carbon monoxide detector, this handy characteristic turns into a hidden killer.

4. Blind Spot Monitoring Isn’t Foolproof

Blind spot detection methods use sensors to provide you with a warning when a automobile is subsequent to you, outdoors your peripheral imaginative and prescient. However like every expertise, these methods can malfunction or miss objects totally.

Should you turn out to be overly depending on the sensor and cease bodily checking your blind spots, you’re playing along with your security. Soiled sensors, climate interference, and slender bikes can all go undetected, resulting in devastating accidents throughout lane adjustments.

Know-how ought to assist your instincts, not change them. When drivers rely solely on screens, they neglect the fundamentals of defensive driving.

5. Rear Cross-Visitors Alerts Can Be Inaccurate

Again-up warning methods and rear cross-traffic alerts are lifesavers in concept. They’re designed to warn you of vehicles, individuals, or procuring carts crossing behind you as you reverse. Nonetheless, the real-world efficiency of those methods is inconsistent.

In crowded parking heaps, they might beep consistently, triggering alerts for distant or irrelevant objects. Over time, this results in “warning fatigue,” the place drivers ignore the alerts altogether. On the flip aspect, these methods may also fail to warn of fast-approaching automobiles till it’s too late.

Finally, many drivers belief the alerts over their very own eyes, resulting in harmful assumptions whereas reversing.

6. Lane-Protecting Help Can Create False Confidence

Lane-keeping help helps gently steer your automobile again into the lane if it senses you’re drifting. Sounds nice, proper? However many methods battle with pale lane markings, sharp curves, or inclement climate.

In these conditions, the system both disengages or behaves unpredictably—jerking the wheel or failing to appropriate in time. If a driver is relying an excessive amount of on the system to keep up protected positioning, a slight system failure can result in a collision or roadway departure. It’s one other case of comfort giving technique to complacency. These options are supposed to assist, not drive for you.

7. Computerized Emergency Braking Doesn’t All the time Have interaction

Computerized emergency braking (AEB) is marketed as a life-saving characteristic. In lots of conditions, it’s. However, like all methods, it has limitations.

AEB methods use cameras, radar, or each to detect impending collisions and cease the automobile if the driving force doesn’t react in time. However in low-light situations, heavy rain, or with small or fast-moving objects (like a baby or animal darting into the highway), these methods can fail totally.

Drivers who assume their automobile will “save them” in each emergency might not brake rapidly sufficient themselves—turning a potential close to miss right into a tragedy.

When Excessive-Tech Turns Excessive-Threat

Know-how has introduced unimaginable advances to the automotive world, however it’s not a substitute for alert, defensive driving. Many of those fancy options are marketed as cutting-edge security instruments, however when misunderstood or misused, they will truly put you at risk.

The widespread thread? Overconfidence. The extra we belief our vehicles to suppose for us, the extra possible we’re to tune out, and the upper the dangers turn out to be. So earlier than you marvel at your automobile’s high-tech devices, ask your self: Are they serving to you drive higher or simply serving to you’re feeling safer whereas paying much less consideration?

What’s one automobile characteristic you as soon as trusted that ended up disappointing and even endangering you?

Learn Extra:

What Happens When Your Car’s Computer Decides Not to Start?

Can You Trust the Brakes in Your “Smart” Car?

Riley is an Arizona native with over 9 years of writing expertise. From private finance to journey to digital advertising to popular culture, she’s written about all the things underneath the solar. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outdoors, studying, or cuddling along with her two corgis.