Car Safety Features
Crumple Zones
A crumple zone is a design feature in a vehicle which allows it to reduce or soak up some of the forces that would normally be inflicted upon your body in the event of an accident or a sudden stop. Inertia would normally cause your body to continue to travel in the same direction as the car in the event of a sudden stop, for example if you were moving forwards at 50klms per hour and your vehicle hits a solid wall, it will stop but your body will want to continue to travel forwards. If there is no other force to reduce the sudden stop, then the impact forces on your body could be potentially fatal. This is where crumple zones come in to affect, they make the vehicle less rigid in the front and rear and has a cushioning effect in the event of a sudden stop or accident. Because the front of the car acts as a cushion, it slows the time it takes for the car to come to a complete stop. This will apply less of a force on your body which could in turn save your life. In 1967, a new safety feature that all the new cars got was a roll cage or safety cage with ‘crumple zones’. The boot had been made bigger by almost 50% to meet the the need for a large crumple zone at the rear. The Mercedes Heck flosse was the first car in the world to have this new safety features.
What is DTC
Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) allows for sports-style driving even when DSC is controlling stability and when wheel traction is higher. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) is a sub-function of the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system that can be turned on and off. DTC has two major uses: (1) To regulate traction and to enable sports-style driving while providing active stability control. If the front Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) allows for sports-style driving even when DSC dynamic wheels are stuck in snow and cannot spin properly, this leads to slip on the rear wheels (when they spin faster than the front wheels, generally a sign that performance has been exceeded) and DSC acts to change engine output: the power needed for forward movement is reduced. Switching to DTC has a positive effect on this situation, as traction is improved without a loss of power. When DTC is on, (2). It helps the driver alleviate the situation enough for DSC’s measures to become effective. The driver retains complete control over the vehicle.
What is DSC
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) adds to a vehicles safety control even in adverse weather conditions or on tough surfaces. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is the core of the chassis control systems in a BMW vehicle. It ensures the highest possible levels of stability when driving, and it maximizes traction of all wheels when moving off or accelerating. It is able to detect the first signs of oversteer or understeer and helps keep the vehicle safely on track, even if the tyres have varying levels of tread grip. Sensors permanently check how the vehicle is moving. Information comes from a range of sensors monitoring the speed of the wheels turning, their steering angle, side forces, pressure and yaw (degree of rotation around the vertical axis). A simulation model stored in the DSC control unit to ensure stability can be compared to information coming from the steering wheel and accelerator. If there is too great a difference between the model and how the vehicle is currentlytravelling, then DSC engages to increase stability or traction. The engine and brake management systems are targeted specifically.
Pedal Intrusion/Retraction System
In the event of a frontal accident i.e. where two or more vehicles hit each other from the front or at an angle from the front, the foot controls (accelerator, brake and clutch) of the vehicle can be forced into the drivers feet and ankles causing serious damage. To help prevent this from happening the vehicle pedal intrusion prevention system if fitted to the car automatically retracts the pedals away from the drivers feet and ankles and in doing so significantly reduces the risk of serious injury to the affected areas.
Rigid Safety Cell
Not all crashes can be avoided so in an effort to protect you and your passengers, some modern cars have an ultra stiff body structure. This is the roll cage which surrounds the cabin of the car and can be created using laser welded high-strength steels. This rigid safety cage or cell is surrounded by energy-absorbing crumple zones that help minimise the effects of a collision.
Seat Belts
One of the most important in car safety features and one of the first ever safety features to help reduce injury and reduce fatalities in cars were the seat belts. Initially only in the front and now compulsory in the front and back of the vehicle the seat belt can greatly reduce the chances of you colliding with the steering wheel and dashboard. It can also reduce your passengers from colliding with each other inside the vehicle in the unfortunate event of an accident. Seat belts have come a long way and now have additional feature added to them such as an adjustable upper belt. This allows a passenger to adjust the position of the shoulder strap, to accommodate passengers of different sizes. Seat belt pretensioners retract seat belt and take up any slack in the event of an accident. They do not have the power to pull you back into the seat, so make sure your seat belt in on correctly.
Load limiters allow seat belts to ‘give’ in the event of a severe accident and help reduce the pressure on the chest. This is done by allowing the shoulder strap to reduce the amount of energy concentrated on chest area by allowing the shoulder strap to extend gradually. Penalty points and a fine will be accrued if all passengers don’t wear their seat belts while driving, remember you are responsible for your own safety and everyone else’s safety in the car when driving, regardless of whether you are the driver or passenger.
What Is EBA
EBA (Electronic Brake Assist) works in conjunction with ABS (Anti lock braking system) and is designed to improve your braking in an emergency stop situation. The system helps to reduce stopping distances, by applying maximum brake force as soon as it detects ‘panic braking’. This is part of the intelligent protection system available for most modern cars.
Airbags
An airbag is a safety feature in most modern cars. Most cars come with driver’s airbag as standard and alternative airbags such as passenger or side airbags can be bought as optional extras. An airbag is designed to inflate rapidly upon rapid deceleration. This can be caused due to a frontal or near frontal collision or the undercarriage of your car hitting an obstacle which causes your car to decelerate quickly. The purpose of the airbag is to prevent the occupants of the vehicle from hitting any areas of the car that could cause an injury. When an airbag inflates it is through the release of a gas generally nitrogen which fully inflates the airbag in 0.1 seconds. When the airbag inflates there is generally a loud bang which can be quite startling at first. As the occupants of the car are thrown forward and hit the airbag it is already deflating. This reduces any impact the occupant may have with the steering wheel, dashboard or the windows. It is vital never to cross your hands on your steering wheel in case the airbag is deployed. Almost all new cars come with 2 airbags as standard.
What Is ASR
ASR is Anti Slip Regulation and is another traction control system designed to prevent a loss of traction on the driven wheels. When harsh acceleration is applied by the driver on a poor road surface which may be greasy or wet ASR helps reduce wheel spin or slipping. Like ESC (Electronic Stability Control) ASR can combine several safety features to help maintain vehicle control when erratic driving takes place.ASR can reduce the fuel supply or the spark to the cylinders in the engine. ASR can also reduce the boost in a turbo charged engine so therefore reducing engine power. Typically ASR works in conjunction with the ABS system (Anti-Lock Braking System).
What Is ESC And ESP
ESP is an Electronic Stability Program which helps to prevent skidding. It works in conjunction with ABS and Traction Control to help maintain vehicle control when steering becomes erratic in an emergency. ESC (Electronic Stability Control) uses the vehicle’s braking system to help keep the vehicle on track. The braking system applies the brakes on individual wheels to counter over-steer or under-steer. Some systems also reduce engine power to reduce acceleration on individual driven wheels.
What Is ABS
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is used to prevent your wheels locking in the event of sharp braking. The driver must step on the brake sharply and hold the brake for the system to work. Unlike normal braking systems this system applies and releases the brakes up to 18 times a second. This system allows the driver the advantage of being able to steer the vehicle in such a situation resulting in more control of the vehicle in an emergency.
What Is Traction Control
Traction control is designed to prevent wheel spin in poor traction conditions such as snow or rain or harsh acceleration. The vehicle detects when a loss of control is imminent and reduces the amount of power going to each wheel which may lose traction.
What Is Intelligent Protection
This system is designed to help you control your vehicle when you may be about to skid or lose control. If you are steering in one direction but your vehicle is about to head in another direction this system automatically brakes specific wheels allowing you to control steering and traction. Common causes of when intelligent protection systems are useful would be when driving too fast, having to swerve to avoid a hazard, poor weather conditions or road surfaces.
