Driving is safer now that the automotive collision avoidance sensor has finally found its way into some production vehicles. While collision sensors respond to an accident that has already happened by launching air bags, sensors for collision avoidance monitor road and driving conditions and distances between vehicles and warn drivers in order to prevent an accident in the first place.

Systems currently installed on some new vehicles include the Adaptive Cruise Control which uses radar and automatically adjusts your speed to keep you a certain distance behind the vehicle in front of you; the Distance Alert which additionally warns you with a red light if you get too close to the car ahead; a Driver Alert Control that monitors the lines on the road and driving characteristics and gives audible and visual warnings; Blind Spot Proximity Warning that warns you if there is another vehicle in your blind spot when you start trying to change lanes, a Roll Stability Control System.

If you're in the market for business vehicles:

1. Buy a vehicle in which auto collision sensors trigger airbags.
2. Locate collision avoidance sensors that you can buy.
3. Purchase vehicles equipped with auto collision avoidance detectors.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find an automobile that provides collision sensors via safe air bags

Collision sensors to deploy a driver-side air bag are mandatory equipment on all cars produced in the United States since 1989. Many vehicles also have a passenger side system as well. This is a passive system, since it protects passengers from injury in the event of an accident, but a car collision sensor does not prevent accidents.

I recommend: The Ford Taurus and the Lincoln MKX are considered to be among the safest vehicles on the road, from their handling to their air bags.

Find existing collision avoidance sensor products on the market

Collision avoidance sensor systems are a pretty new concept, mostly in R&D phase and with not a lot on the market yet, but a few items are available.

I recommend: CrimeStopper has a lot of security devices for your car, but they also have a collision avoidance system, called the BackStopper, which is primarily designed for parallel parking situations, as it warns you of the possibility of a rear-end impact. Massa Products has produced a hidden transducer system for the rear bumper of a vehicle that uses ultrasonic technology to detect a possible collision. Click on the link that says "Hidden Transducer Technology" for information on how it works.

Buy a vehicle equipped with collision prevention sensors

Ford and Volvo now incorporate collision avoidance sensors in some vehicles, including blind spot warning systems, electronic roll stability controls, a lane departure system, and forward-looking radar braking systems for collision avoidance.

I recommend: The Volvo XC90 incorporates a roll stability control system and a forward-looking radar braking system. Ford Explorer models are also equipped with a roll stability control system.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As more auto collision avoidance systems make their way out of the lab and onto the roads, you'll find a wider selection of these collision sensors available in popular cars.