Airbags

Driver side and passenger side airbags are now required in all vehicles sold in the United States, but were initially designed as a more convenient alternative to seat belts. More recently, side airbags have been introduced to prevent passengers from hitting the sides of the vehicle in a crash. While airbags are a great safety feature for adult passengers, they can be dangerous to children and smaller adults, so some cars automatically shut off the passenger air bag when less weight then a standard adult is detected.

Crumple Zones

Crumple zones have been designed to absorb energy from a crash to allow the passenger compartment to remain intact, thereby protecting the passengers. Crumple zones will allow the engine compartment and other non-passenger compartments to take much of the brunt of an accident so that force of the collision is dispersed.

Seat Belts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that seatbelts save 13,000 lives each year, and that 7,000 more could be saved if people would actually wear them.

Anti-Lock Brakes and Brake Assist

Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) prevents the wheels from locking when the brakes are engaged quickly. Before ABS brakes, you would need to pump the brakes when stopping to avoid locking the brakes and losing control of the vehicle. Brake Assist can detect panic braking and automatically applies strong braking power. Brake Assist can cut stopping distance from 20 to 45 percent. For example, at 60 mph, Brake Assist can stop a vehicle in 130 feet, compared to a non-Brake Assist vehicle which stops in 240 feet.

Electronic Stability Control

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made a standard that Electronic Stability Control (ESC) equipment is mandatory in all vehicles by 2011. ESC uses the angle of the steering wheel to estimate the direction the driver wants the car to go and compares it to the direction the wheels are going. ESC can apply the brakes to individual wheels to try to keep the car’s tires in contact with the road surface. ESC will only begin applying brakes to individual wheels when it detects a loss of steering control.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has estimated that ESC will save 10,000 lives a year. Numerous studies have shown that ESC is very effective at helping the driver regain control of a vehicle and in reducing the severity of car crashes.

While automobile accidents continue to happen every day, the automobile industry and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are making strides toward making vehicles and our roads safer for everyone.

This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Please contact an attorney in your local area for more information about car accidents.

Additional Legal Source: For more information on personal injury from a car accident visit WurtzelLaw.com