Forward car collision warning system tested

An automotive industry group working with US Federal safety officials has produced and is testing a forward collision warning system. Unlike adaptive cruise controls that actually take control of the car, the alarm system measures the distance, relative speed and angle between cars using computer technology and radar, sounding an alarm when it appears that the driver may be in serious danger of a rear-end collisions. Such accidents comprise almost a quarter of crashes in the United States.

The trick, apparently, is to set the alarm so that it does not go off so often that it is ignored but still provides enough warning for the driver to react. It is projected that the technology will be widespread in about five years.

Read the article at wired.com.