Technology is constantly changing and shaping the world that we live in. Technology has changed many aspects of life in recent times, but few areas as much as driving. Car technology has developed at a rapid rate in the last 20 years and so much so that the way people drove pre-2000 would now seem prehistoric. So, how has car technology changed over the years?
Navigation
One of the most obvious changes has been the rise of GPS and sat-nav. The days of having to use an enormous fold-out map are (fortunately) long gone and now you can simply pop an address into your sat-nav and then get instructions as you drive, including information on your ETA, traffic updates etc. This can take a lot of the stress out of driving, especially if you are driving somewhere new.
Safety Features
Another area that has been completely transformed is safety and there are now some incredible safety features that save lives and prevent collisions constantly. Automatic emergency braking (ABS), lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and driver fatigue alert are just a few of the technologies that can keep people safe and stop accidents from happening. Of course, accidents are still common and motorists need to have GAP insurance in place in order to protect themselves. What is gap insurance? This offers protection from depreciation in the event of a write off by covering the gap between an insurance payout and the amount outstanding on a finance agreement.
Connectivity
These days, connectivity is an important part of driving. People want to be able to connect their smartphones, watch movies in the back and even share data with other vehicles for real-time updates that can improve the driving experience.
Automation
While completely driverless cars remain some way off (although Level 2 has arrived in the UK), there are many autonomous features that are changing the driving experience. There has been continuous development in this area with modern cars now being able to park themselves and utilise cruise control on the motorways.
Electric Cars
The other major development has been the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles. Electric cars are really taking off right now with so many people becoming eco-conscious along with the financial perks of making the switch. Additionally, every major manufacturer now has at least one electric vehicle in their range and the charging infrastructure has improved drastically in recent times.
As you can see, technology has completely changed the driving experience in recent times. There have been developments in many different areas to make driving easier, safer, environmentally friendly and more enjoyable and the future looks bright with many major developments on the horizon that could transform the driving experience.