Regardless of how safe modern automobiles have come to be, side impacts remain extremely dangerous, as there’s very little car between you and a high-speed moving projectile.
This brutal crash occurred last month in Des Plaines, Illinois, and from what we can gather, the driver of the turning car made a mistake by not yielding to oncoming traffic. According to ABC 7 Chicago, three members of a family were killed on the spot, the sole survivor being a 16-year old boy, said to have been in the driver’s seat.
As for the oncoming car, which by the way looks considerably more massive than the older-model VW Passat it crashed into (we’re guessing a Lexus LS), its driver, who was seemingly speeding, was reported to have only minor injuries.
It’s precisely these types of tragic accidents that speak in favor of autonomous cars. While it might take a long time for our cars to stand up to us and not let us exceed the speed limit so easily, technology that would more or less prevent us from turning when we shouldn’t already exists.
Smart traffic lights and other sensors might help too in the future, by detecting incoming cars that are speeding and warn other drivers/vehicles in the vicinity to steer clear.