Vehicle manufacturers continue to innovate with safety features designed to reduce the risk of accidents and protect passengers when collisions occur.
Knowing about these features can help drivers choose the right car and improve safety on the road.
Active safety technologies
Active safety technologies prevent accidents by helping to keep the vehicle stable and under control. Anti-lock braking systems help drivers keep control of steering during an emergency brake by stopping the wheels from locking up. Electronic stability control boosts a vehicle’s stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction when turning sharply or suddenly. However, accidents can still happen, and drivers must understand how to use and respond to the technology.
Adaptive cruise control is smarter than regular cruise control. It uses sensors and radar to adjust the car’s speed to keep a safe distance from the car in front. This is very helpful in heavy traffic and can help avoid crashes from behind.
The Lane Keeping Assist System is a feature that warns drivers if they start to drift out of their lane without signaling. Some systems can even gently steer the car back to the center of the lane. This can greatly lower the chance of accidents caused by not paying attention or being tired.
Passive safety technologies
While active safety features aim to prevent accidents, passive safety features protect people when a crash happens. Airbags are in all new cars and help protect during front and side crashes by softening the impact. Modern seat belts now come with pre-tensioners that pull the belt tight right after a crash, keeping you more securely in place and reducing injury.
Crumple zones are parts of the car designed to crush in a controlled way during a crash. They absorb and spread out the crash energy, lessening the force felt inside the car and helping keep people safer.
The future of vehicle safety
As technology gets better, we see more active and passive safety features working together in cars. New developments in self-driving cars and systems that let vehicles talk to each other could further improve safety. These systems share information about road conditions and dangers in real-time.
The constant improvement of vehicle safety features is key to lowering the number of accidents and deaths on the roads. Both drivers and passengers benefit greatly from these technologies.
