Cars are becoming smarter these days, the fruit of years of research, as can been seen in the new technologies Nissan plans to install in its vehicles.

The era of the smart car has been a long time coming. I am not talking about the Smart vehicle, a pint-sized car manufactured in Germany. I am talking about leveraging technologies to create what researchers call the 'uncrashable' car, one that is automatically able to take the correct evasive or warning action to prevent the vehicle from colliding with something.

Nissan announced that it would soon be installing side and back-up collision prevention technologies in some of its car models. A third technology being introduced has more to do with indicating the right speed to achieve maximum fuel efficiency.

The new features use force feedback on the steering wheel or gas pedal to communicate to the driver. For example, the side collision prevention feature uses millimetre-wave radar to monitor the blind spot - the area just to the rear of a car where other vehicles and objects cannot be easily seen in the car's mirrors.

The radar works with a camera, which measures the relationship between the lanes so the onboard system can analyse the information and determine whether a vehicle is approaching from behind.

If an object is within range its presence is revealed through a small light near the wing mirror. If the sensor also detects that the driver is about to change lanes when a car is in the blind spot, the system lets out an auditory warning and the steering wheel gently resists the turn.

Drivers could override the resistance by using more strength to overcome it.

The second technology, back-up collision prevention, takes a more decisive action if rear and side-mounted sensors detect objects in a path when a driver reverses. If an object is detected an alarm sounds followed by the automated activation of the brakes. In other words, the car stops by itself.

The two new prototype technologies extend Nissan's 'Safety Shield' programme, in which the company is slowly adding new detection and collision avoidance technologies to its vehicles.

The company has already installed its Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems in some models. DCA puts upward pressure on the accelerator and applies the brake if a driver gets too close to a vehicle in front. Meanwhile LDP senses road markings and provides a warning if the driver begins straying out of their lane.

Nissan also has an Around View Monitor (AVM) system, which pulls together a bird's-eye image of the vehicle and its surroundings using four ultra-wide angle high-resolution cameras mounted on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle. The AVM is currently installed in Nissan and Infiniti models.

Better now than later. In part the delays so far by vehicle manufacturers in leveraging such available technologies to make vehicles safer is due to economics. Drivers are resistant to paying more for the changes when they do not see the immediate benefits, or that they see as a luxury, even if these may mean their risk of an accident is diminished.

We only have to go back to the seatbelt debate during the 1980s to understand the psychology behind such resistance. Most people only began using seatbelts when governments finally mandated their use, despite studies showing they saved lives.

In a way governments are now moving to push car manufacturers to do more with technologies already in existence. For example, Nissan is probably being pushed by Japan's government to help bring down road accidents.

I gather this from the company's stated mission that it is working to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

In Europe, the Europen Union (EU) has set as a target to bring down road deaths to about 25,000 a year from the 50,000 recorded in 2003. While much of the programme has to do with driver education and enforcement of the rules of the road, a lot has to do with installing new systems in cars.

For example one EU-funded project has developed night vision sensors to help drivers see more of what is on the road during the most dangerous period to be in a vehicle. This technology would be a huge advantage for many of us, especially if we do not have very good night vision to start off with.

While drivers travel just 28 percent of their miles at night, 55 percent of all motor fatalities occur after sunset.

Another project, PReVENT has resulted in a number of new safety technologies. These include a wireless communication that communicates with other vehicles to alert the driver about potentially dangerous situations ahead.

Another system uses satellite navigation track approaching hazards, like bends, dips or intersections.

Another system tracks the speed and trajectories of surrounding vehicles and other road users in real time.

If a vehicle ahead brakes or stops suddenly, or a pedestrian steps onto the road, the system calculates the implications based on the driver's speed and other factors.

It may react through controlled braking manoeuvres, activation of the seatbelt restraints or by pre-arming the airbags. Since the technology can react faster than a driver, cutting speed sooner could result in fewer fatalities in the event of a crash.

Of course driver psychology and the cost will determine when, not if, we begin seeing such technologies in our cars. The benefits are there, but the will is weak.

Send any comments on this topic or on other technologies to elamin.ahmed@gmail.com