The automobile of the future will warn the driver of the car behind it that it is about to make a panic stop, even before its driver hits the brakes, reports Automotive Electronic Journal.
Called the advanced brake light device (ABLD), the unit senses when a driver rapidly removes his foot from the accelerator pedal. The ABLD instantly turns on the brake lights 0.2 to 0.3 seconds before the driver hits the brake pedal. This gives the driver of the car behind critical time in which to react, enough time to cut 24 feet from the stopping distance at 60 mph.The new warning unit was invented by ATAT Technology Ltd., an Israeli firm, and is currently undergoing tests by the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as evaluation by European automakers.