Saved by technology: hot new safety features hit the luxury market

Computers have greatly aided movie special effects, the space shuttle
and climate modeling in recent years. While these things are important
to human life, isn't a better four-wheeled mousetrap what we really
want? Fortunately, we're getting there quickly, and looking at the
options lists of the luxury brands, you could be forgiven for wondering
if the flying car really might be just around the corner.

You can also be forgiven for your techno-lust, because many of the
new technological advances are safety-related. Enhancing the well-being
of passengers and drivers with creative new features is one way
automakers are attempting to distinguish themselves in a
hyper-competitive market. "Some of the new technologies have a great
deal of potential," said Russ Rader, a spokesperson for the Insurance
Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). "The big unanswered question is how
drivers will react. Some of these systems rely on warning the driver to
take action. If multiple warnings and buzzers go off, will drivers turn
them off?" If you've ever taken the battery out of your smoke detector
because it goes off when you cook dinner, the answer may be "yes."

If you buy a vehicle with the hottest new safety features, the key
issue to be aware of is that they might actually give you a false sense
of security, and you'll just drive faster and more recklessly, thus
negating any additional margin of safety you might have purchased.

If you can't resist the latest bells and whistles, here's a brief
run-down of some of what's out there right now. As usual, you can
expect technology from today's luxury cars to trickle down to less
expensive vehicles within a few short years.

Since more deaths occur in frontal collisions than any other type of
accident, forward collision warning is a promising technology. Radar or
laser sensors in the front of the car detect objects the driver might
crash into, and the car then warns the driver. The warnings vary with
the manufacturer: some use sounds or lights in the instrument panel or
- in the case of Volvo - lights projected onto the windshield. With
Acuras, the safety belts are also tightened slightly. If the system is
connected to a brake-assist feature, the vehicle may even apply the
brakes with increasing pressure. Acura, Mercedes and Volvo are
currently using versions of this technology.

Emergency brake assist, as mentioned above, provides extra power to
the brake system when you try to stop suddenly. Brake pedal sensors
help the computer understand if the situation is normal or not.
According to the IIHS, Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus,
Mercedes, Rolls Royce and Volvo are currently using this technology. On
BMWs and Volvos the system moves pads closer to the wheel discs for
faster activation of the brakes. Infiniti adds pre-pressurization of
the brake system, anticipating driver action. However, most cars will
boost braking power only when a driver suddenly applies the brakes.

Are you a lane drifter? With lane departure warning, if you ease out
of your lane, the car will warn you. Infiniti's system uses cameras and
also monitors the steering angle and throttle position, and will steer
the vehicle if it senses that the driver isn't reacting properly. With
BMWs, drivers are alerted by a vibrating steering wheel akin to driving
over the rumble strips on highway shoulders. Audi, Buick, Cadillac and
Volvo also have versions of this technology that rely on audio and
visual warnings.

If you thought that headlights that moved with your steering wheel
were lost in ancient automotive history (along with the iconic Tucker
and the groovy Frenc-h Citroen SM), think again. It's a good idea that
has come back: with adaptive headlights, as you begin a turn, you can
actually see in the direction you're turning, rather than just straight
ahead. Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover,
Lexus, Lincoln, Maserati, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo are using
variations of this concept.

We all have our blind spots. Unfortunately, so do cars, so
blind-spot detection has been invented. Cameras scan lanes on both
sides of your car and let you know when a vehicle has entered the blind
spot. Again, you can expect this feature to move down the food chain to
lower-priced cars in the next few years.

But who would want to be seen in a car that has all of these amazing
devices, but was scratched-up? Though not computer-assisted in any way,
Infiniti's new Scratch Shield can automatically fill in light scratches
on a car's exterior. After a scratch, this clear coat will actually
"heal" over the course of a couple of days. Warm temperatures help it
work, but in winter or colder temperatures it may take a few extra
days.

-- For more columns and reviews, visit sfgate.com/cars.

SFCHRONICLE CARS is produced by The marketing department of the San Francisco Chronicle.