Over the past decade drivers have seen a dramatic increase in technology in their cars. 

  • Will new technology in cars keep drivers safer or lead to more crashes? 
  • New cars to park themselves and alert driver of traffic changes
  • New 2016 data shows increase in fatal car crashes

There are vehicles that back themselves into parking spaces, those that will stop and warn the driver of changes in traffic ahead, and according to vehicle manufacturers, they are designed to make driving safer.

According to statistics released by the National Highway Safety Administration, the technology designed to make driving safer may have the opposite effect. 

The first six months of 2016 saw traffic fatalities increase by more than ten percent over the same period in 2015. Is in-car technology to blame? Robert Wall, a traffic safety expert in Virginia said the distraction in our cars may be the issue.

"And all of this is sitting in front of us just like this laptop is. It's sitting next to me as I drive. And every time we add a new technology to it, it takes a little bit of our attention away from what we should be paying attention to," Wall said. 

The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida is at the cutting edge of transportation research. In spite of current data, Pei-Sing Lin Ph.D., sees a much safer future because of technology.

"Fully autonomous and connected vehicles will definitely make driving much safer, smoother and more fuel efficient. The major challenges could be system failure and vehicle-hackings. Overall, fully autonomous and connected vehicles will be very safe," Lin explains. 

It's the time between where we are now, and where we're headed in vehicle technology that is the most dangerous.

It's not only smarter car technology that will improve safety, but smarter roads and design will be a major focus for the future.