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Seat Belt
Most injuries to drivers and passengers are caused by contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, windscreen and the sides and roof of the vehicle. Lap and shoulder belts have proven their value in preventing severe injury in the majority of crashes. Cars with advanced seat belt features that provide even greater protection are becoming more available. Correctly fitted and properly adjusted child restraints provide protection for children from birth to 16 years of age. -
Intelligent Airbag Systems
The first airbags installed in cars reacted only to crashes. They deployed at one speed and were set for a generalized passenger size. If you were shorter, or weighed less, there was a danger of being injured by the bag. Car companies quickly realized this was an issue and steadily refined their airbag systems. -
Adaptive Headlights
This is a returning technology. In the days of long hoods and rounded fenders several small manufacturers tinkered with the idea of linking headlight beams to wheel direction. The idea was to shine light where the car was going -- occasionally a problem in a fast turn. -
Electronic Stability Control
This technology builds on the established anti-lock braking systems now required in all new vehicles. Software works together with a hydraulic control unit, steering angle sensors, wheel speed sensors and other on board monitoring devices to determine if a car is experiencing oversteer or understeer. If the car is experiencing any of these conditions the software can apply brake pressure at individual wheels to bring the car back to its correct course. -
Emergency Brake Assist
This again builds on the ABS system. The car's computer monitors brake pedal actuation, wheel slip and a host of other sensors. Programming logic determines when a panic braking event is happening and goes to work. Normally a driver's foot pressure on the brakes is amplified via vacuum booster or a hydraulic booster. This is enough to create the force needed to stop a car in most situations. However, in a panic situation the driver has less time to react and less time to press the pedal hard eno
