We've all heard about life-saving technological advances in automobiles, such as blind-spot warning systems, forward collision warning systems, and lane-departure systems, but most of us also know that these technologies can be expensive. One usually finds them included as features on luxury vehicles (in the case of Nissan, on its Infiniti models), and they cost a pretty penny either way. Most of these vehicles rely on expensive radar sensors (which double as "smart" cruise-control systems) that are pricey to own. Enter Nissan: the brand that's committed to providing life-saving technologies to all.

The IIHS stated recently that accident-avoidance features could cut crashes by up to a third; however, the group also found that new-car shoppers are more willing to pay for convenience features than they are to pay for safety features. Bad news: the cost of radar systems isn't likely to decrease anytime soon. Good news: Nissan has developed a way to use sophisticated image processing in just two cameras on the front and back of a vehicle. These wide-angle cameras, in combination with Around View Monitors, can achieve pedestrian detection and issue blind-spot and lane-departure warnings. The new system will cost only a few hundred dollars per vehicle, a large decrease from traditional tech-systems.

Interested in purchasing a new Nissan with more cost-efficient safety features? The system should be available beginning in 2012 in such models as the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Murano, Nissan Altimaand perhaps the Nissan Sentra.Stay tuned with New City Nissan for more updates about up-and-coming innovations.