Cadillac is introducing vibrating seats as a safety feature on upcoming models like the XTS. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Cadillac has announced a new safety feature for much of its line that is aimed at cutting down on distracted driving. Buyers can opt for seats that will vibrate, much like a cellular phone, when proximity sensors detect nearby vehicles.
Part of growing segment
A growing number of car makers have begun incorporating technology into their cars to cut down on distracted driving. Numerous car makers, many of them luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, have lane departure warning and drowsy driver detection systems that will give the driver a warning that they are about to change lanes inadvertently or there are other cars around. The systems vary by car makers; some will give off a chime, some will vibrate the steering wheel or automatically steer the car back into the correct lane.
More of these features are being built into cars all the time. Cadillac, according to MSNBC, has just announced a distracted-driving prevention system that would be an option on some of its upcoming models.
Generating a buzz
The new distracted driving aid by Cadillac inserts vibration plates in the four corners of the seat, according to the New York Times, and will “buzz” the driver in various situations. The seats use “haptic feedback,” which is employed by other automakers in steering wheels.
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Cadillac is saying that the idea behind the vibrating alert is in order to have a warning system for drivers who are hard of hearing or have the stereo up too loud to hear the chimes or might be annoyed by various bells and whistles.
The vibrating seats, called Safety Alert Seats, are part of Cadillac’s Driver Awareness and Driver Assist bundle, according to MSNBC, which uses motion and proximity sensors to warn drivers of drifting into lanes randomly or of cars that are in potential blind spots. Danger in the front or rear of the car triggers the front and/or rear of the seat, dangers from the side trigger right or left side vibrations.
No price yet
The safety feature will be tied into the Cadillac User Experience or CUE infotainment/control system, and the driver will be able to engage or disengage the seat vibrations via a menu in the CUE system.
The Safety Alert Seats will be an option and a price isn’t available yet for it. It will be available first on the soon-to-be-available 2013 Cadillac XTS, the new flagship luxury sedan. The option will also be available, according to Inside Line, on the 2013 ATS sedan and SRX crossover.