In modern times, one of the most important aspects of cars is the safety features they contain. However, many people don’t understand quite how these features work, or why they are so important. This brochure is designed to help figure it all out using too similar and common cars as an example. The safety features we will be specifically looking are: Electronic Stability Control, Frontal Airbag – Driver, ABS brakes, Traction Control, Curtain Airbags (front, Rear, Driver, and Passenger), Seatbelt Pretension (Driver), Crumple zones, and Adjustable steering wheels.

How do the Features Work?

Electronic Stability Control: Electronic Stability Control or ESC works by using a computer program which can detect and effectively prevent skids. It does this by detecting loss of steering control and applying individual brakes to help keep the driver in some control of the vehicle. Some ESC systems can also reduce engine power until it deems that enough control has been regained.

Frontal Airbag- Driver: Frontal airbags (Driver) work by suddenly expanding and stopping your head from crashing into the steering wheel or dashboard when you have a collision and thus saving yourself from serious head injuries. It works like this: While you are driving the car, your body is going the same speed as the car, and if the car hits something like a wall, while the car has stopped, you body hasn’t. Because your body lunges forward, and while the seatbelt restrains the body from shooting out the windshield, the airbag protects your head and neck from serious damage while you jolt forward because of inertia.

ABS Brakes: Anti Lock Brake system or ABS Brakes are another electronic safety feature that prevents skidding. However ABS works differently from ESC. ABS prevents the locking of the wheels that happen in the panic before a potential crash. This is important because it allows the driver to steer around the potential crash even if they are braking as hard as they can.

Traction Control: Traction Control or TC aims to improve friction by preventing wheel slip, which is what happens when a wheel freely moves against a road surface without gaining traction. This is a common occurrence in cold areas. Several TC systems work by diverting power from wheels that are slipping and spinning to wheels that do have traction. This means that a higher percentage of the vehicles power is delivered to wheels that have traction.

Curtain Airbags (Front, Rear, Driver, and Passenger): “Curtain airbags are designed to protect the driver’s and passenger’s heads in a crash.” (http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/curtain_airbags.php) They do this by suddenly expanding upon impact in a crash and creating a cushion between the Driver and passengers and whatever object they may hit. They also stay in place if the vehicle rolls on its side. “Research conducted in the USA estimates that head protecting airbags can reduce driver deaths in the event of a side impact crash by close to 40%.”(http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/curtain_airbags.php) This is because if there was no curtain airbag, there is nothing stopping your head from hitting the side of the car and causing serious damage.

Seat Belt Pretensioners: “Seatbelt Pretensioners are a component of the seatbelt system which locks the seat belt in place during a crash. There are three types of seatbelt Pretensioners: mechanical, electrical, and pyrotechnic.” 

Seat Belt Pretensioners work by sensing either electrically or mechanically, the sudden deceleration before a crash, and locks the seat belt to stop you as the car stops so you don’t fly out the windshield.(Newton’s law: Inertia)

Crumple zones: The crumple zones on a car are generally found at the front of the vehicle and are designed to crumple slowly in a collision, reducing the force that hits the passengers and driver. The slow crumpling works by absorbing some of the kinetic energy slower than a stronger area, reducing the sudden force on the driver and passenger. 

Adjustable steering wheels: “Tilt or adjustable steering wheels allow different-sized drivers to position the steering wheel for comfort and safety, allowing the instrument panel to be visible at all times.”

Adjustable Steering wheels work by allowing the driver to be more comfortable and be able to see the vital information on the dashboard easier. They do this by allowing changes in tilt, and by moving up and down with the aid of compression locks.

Drive safely