At the same time that automakers and researchers are developing technology that can help your vehicle avoid traffic and produce lower emissions, they are also creating new auto safety innovations that increase the chances that you’ll get from point A to point B in one piece.

2012 has been a promising year for the development of several exciting features that are likely to start appearing in new automobiles. Below are a few of the top auto innovations that are poised to make driving much safer.

Facial Recognition

 
As essential as crash safety components are, more and more automobiles are incorporating features that can help prevent crashes from happening in the first place. Wired reports that a company in Switzerland has been developing facial recognition technology that will be used to cut back on poor driving habits.

The system would involve a camera that could pick up on certain facial expressions, even when the driver’s face is turned at different angles or surrounded by varying levels of light. So how exactly does facial recognition technology promote safety? According to Wired, the technology would be able to track eye movements, detect fatigue, read lips and perform other functions that could potentially deliver warnings or shut off when drivers are distracted, tired or otherwise compromised.

Vehicle Communication

 
This year several agencies and companies have been making strides toward developing new ways in which vehicles communicate. There are already programs that allow your car to communicate with you, but Consumer Reports notes that these newer technologies would help automobiles communicate with one another.

Cars that communicate with one another could be vital in the effort to cut back on the number of crashes that occur each year. With this type of technology, a car waiting at an intersection could be warned if another car is approaching the intersection too quickly and is likely to run the red light. Essentially, these cars could pick up on signs that drivers might not detect, giving a warning or taking over a car’s motion in the case of a potential forward collision, left turn collision, lane change collision or any number of other dangerous scenarios.

This technology can also equip cars with the ability to communicate with traffic lights and school zones, allowing them to warn drivers or limit their maximum speed if they’re in danger of running a red light or speeding through a school zone.

Self-Regulating Tires

 
Even though most people know how important it is to regularly check the pressure of their tires, it’s still common for tires to become underinflated from time to time.

Rather than risking a blowout that could cause a serious crash, drivers may soon be able to take advantage of Goodyear’s self-regulating tire technology. Wired reports that Goodyear is testing out this innovation on commercial vehicles before rolling it out to passenger vehicles.

The technology works by using a sensor inside of the tire. When the sensor detects low pressure, a tube injects air into the tire until the pressure reaches the ideal level.

This year automakers have taken several big steps towards improving the overall safety of automobiles. These new technologies not only have the potential to save millions of dollars in crash expenses, but they may also save countless lives.