TRACTION CONTROL:
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS IMPROVE CAR STABILITY AND STEERING CONTROL DURING ACCELERATION BY CONTROLLING THE AMOUNT THE DRIVE WHEELS CAN SLIP WHEN YOU APPLY EXCESS POWER. WHEN THE WHEEL BEGINS TO SPIN, THIS SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS THE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT AND IN SOME SYSTEMS, APPLIES BRAKING FORCE TO SELECTED WHEELS DURING ACCELERATION AND CORNERING, THUS REDUCING THE ENGINE OUTPUT UNTIL TRACTION IS REGAINED. TRACTION CONTROL IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDSTILL IN WET CONDITIONS AND CAN BE HELPFUL AS A LESS EXPENSIVE (AND LESS EFFECTIVE) ALTERNATIVE TO ALL- OR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DISTRIBUTES POWER MORE EVENLY TO BOTH FRONT AND REAR WHEELS TO MAXIMIZE TRACTION. UNLESS COMBINED WITH TRACTION CONTROL, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS DO NOT PREVENT THE DRIVE WHEELS FROM SLIPPING WHEN YOU APPLY EXCESS POWER DURING ACCELERATION. SOME TRACTION-CONTROL SYSTEMS ONLY OPERATE AT LOW SPEEDS, WHILE OTHERS WORK AT ALL SPEEDS
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS:
IF A CAR'S WHEELS LOCK UP DURING SUDDEN EMERGENCY BRAKING, THE DRIVER LOSES STEERING CONTROL AND THIS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SKID SIDEWAYS. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS) PREVENT A CAR'S WHEELS FROM LOCKING DURING SUCH 'PANIC' BRAKING AND ALLOW THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN STEERING CONTROL AS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE FOR AVOIDING A COLLISION, ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN THE RAINY SEASON. IT KEEPS THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, EVEN AFTER APPLYING BRAKES ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO RETAIN STEERING CONTROL WHILE APPLYING BRAKES.
CAR EQUIPPED WITH ABS CAN HAVE EITHER A FOUR-WHEEL OR A TWO-WHEEL ABS. FOUR-WHEEL ABS MONITORS AND CONTROLS ALL THE WHEELS OF THE CAR, WHILE TWO-WHEEL ABS ONLY MONITORS AND CONTROLS THE REAR WHEELS OF A CAR. THE FULL BENEFITS OF ABS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE DRIVER WITH A TWO-WHEEL ABS. IN CARS WITH TWO-WHEEL ABS, THE FRONT WHEELS CAN STILL LOCK DURING HARD OR PANIC BRAKING AND THIS LOCKUP CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
IF YOUR CAR HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, YOU'LL NEED TO ADJUST YOUR BRAKING STYLE. CONVENTIONAL BRAKES REQUIRE HEAVY BRAKING IF YOU ARE STOPPING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES, BUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES REQUIRES GENTLE PRESSURE
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL/ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM:
THIS SYSTEM HELPS TO KEEP THE CAR ON ITS INTENDED PATH WHILE TAKING A TURN, THUS AVOIDING SLIDING OR SKIDDING. IT IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL ON SLIPPERY ROADS AND HELPS IN AVOIDING ACCIDENTS AND ROLL-OVERS.
AUTOMATIC-DIMMING REARVIEW MIRRORS:
CONVENTIONAL INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS HAVE A MANUAL DAY/NIGHT LEVER THAT DRIVERS SWITCH TO REDUCE GLARE FROM REAR-APPROACHING CARS. AUTOMATIC-DIMMING REARVIEW MIRRORS AUTOMATICALLY DARKEN TO REDUCE HEADLIGHT GLARE. THEY DIM GRADUALLY AS THE GLARE GETS BRIGHTER.
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS:
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INCREASE THE ABILITY OF ONCOMING DRIVERS TO SEE YOUR CAR. THE IGNITION SWITCH ACTIVATES THESE LIGHTS. THESE ARE TYPICALLY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS AT REDUCED INTENSITY OR LOW-BEAM LIGHTS AT FULL OR REDUCED POWER. BY INCREASING THE CONTRAST BETWEEN CARS AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS, MAKING THE CARS MORE VISIBLE TO ONCOMING DRIVERS, THESE LIGHTS CAN PREVENT DAYTIME ACCIDENTS.
CRUMPLE ZONE:
CRUMPLE ZONE IS AN AREA OF THE CAR THAT IS DESIGNED TO COMPRESS DURING AN ACCIDENT TO ABSORB THE ENERGY FROM THE IMPACT.
SIDE IMPACT BARS/SIDE DOOR BEAMS:
SIDE IMPACT BARS ARE MADE FROM HIGH STRENGTH STEEL TUBES AND ARE FITTED INTO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE DOOR PANELS, THUS INCREASING THEIR STRENGTH. STRONGER DOORS PROTECT PASSENGERS DURING A SIDE IMPACT.
THREE - STAGE PROTECTIVE BUMPERS:
THIS INCLUDES A 1) UNIQUE PLASTIC ENERGY ABSORBER AND REINFORCED STEEL IMPACT 2) ENERGY ABSORBER THAT CRUSHES UPON COLLISION THAT PREVENTS SEVERE DAMAGE TO BODY AND A 3) REINFORCED IMPACT BEAM AND BRACKET THAT PERFORM A DOUBLE SHOCK ABSORBING FUNCTION.
ROLL CONTROL:A ROLL CONTROL DEVICE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION IMPARTS GREATER STABILITY AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM TOPPLING OVER WHILE NEGOTIATING SHARP CURVES AT HIGH SPEEDS.
LAMINATED GLASS:
LAMINATED GLASS DOES NOT SHATTER IN AN ACCIDENT. USING THIS GLASS ENSURES THAT THE WINDSCREEN PIECES DO NOT SHATTER AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURIES IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
FUEL TANK SAFETY:
IN SOME CARS THE FUEL TANK IS DESIGNED TO STAY INTACT EVEN IN A BIG ACCIDENT ALLOWING NO LEAKS AT ALL. THE FUEL TANK IS ALSO CENTRALLY LOCATED FOR SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE-KEEPING IT OUT OF WAY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
SEAT BELTS/SAFETY BELTS:
SAFETY BELTS REMAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY ELEMENT IN A CRASH. THEY HOLD THE PERSON IN AN OPTIMAL POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CAR CRASH. THEY ALSO REDUCE THE RISK OF COLLISION WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, DASHBOARD OR WINDSHIELD. A LAP/SHOULDER BELT COMBINATION PROVIDES THE BEST PROTECTION.
NORMALLY IN INDIAN CAR MODELS YOU CAN FIND ADJUSTABLE SEAT BELTS FOR FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS ONLY. THESE SEAT BELTS LETS YOU CHANGE/ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF THE SHOULDER STRAP TO ACCOMMODATE A PERSON'S SIZE. BUT, NOW MANY MANUFACTURERS ARE ALSO PROVIDING LAP/SHOULDER BELT IN THE REAR CENTER POSITION OF THE CAR. THIS ADDED FEATURE IS ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL TO OLDER CHILDREN AND CHILDREN IN BOOSTER SEATS WHO ARE OFTEN SEATED IN THE REAR CENTER POSITION.
LOOK OUT FOR THESE FEATURES ON YOUR SEAT BELTS TOO:
SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER:
PRETENSIONERS WITHDRAW THE SEAT BELT TO REMOVE EXCESS SLACK, ALMOST INSTANTLY, IN A CRASH. HOWEVER, YOU STILL NEED TO ADJUST YOUR SEAT BELT AS SNUGLY AS POSSIBLE, SINCE PRETENSIONERS ARE NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO PULL YOU BACK INTO YOUR SEAT. LIKE AIR BAGS, PRETENSIONERS TOO CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER A CRASH.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT FEATURES:
ENERGY MANAGEMENT FEATURES ALLOW THE SEAT BELTS TO PREVENT FORCES ON THE SHOULDER BELT (DURING A SEVERE CRASH) FROM CONCENTRATING TOO MUCH ENERGY ON YOUR CHEST. THESE FEATURES INCLUDE "LOAD LIMITERS" BUILT INTO THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND/OR "TEAR STITCHING" IN THE WEBBING THAT CAUSES THE SEAT BELT TO EXTEND GRADUALLY.
PERFORM A SAFETY CHECK:
TRY ON THE SEAT BELT AND TAKE A TEST DRIVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. DURING YOUR TEST DRIVE, MAKE SURE HEAD RESTRAINTS; ROOF STRUCTURES AND WINDSHIELD DESIGNS DO NOT INTERFERE WITH YOUR ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY. IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, INSTALL THEIR CHILD SAFETY SEATS TO CHECK FOR COMPATIBILITY.
AIR BAGS:
AIRBAGS ARE VERY USEFUL IN AVOIDING TWO TYPES OF ACCIDENTS: REAR-END AND HEAD-ON COLLISIONS. THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN A CRASH BECAUSE DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AT IMPACT AND THE STIFFNESS OF THE OBJECT STRUCK, FRONT AIR BAGS INFLATE TO PREVENT YOUR HEAD AND FACE FROM STRIKING YOUR CAR'S INTERIOR, ESPECIALLY THE DASHBOARD, STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD.
IN A HEAD-ON CRASH, SENSORS TAKE LESS THAN 1/20TH OF A SECOND TO ALERT THE INFLATORS THAT FILL THE BAG. USING AIR BAGS IN CONJUNCTION WITH AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELTS PROVIDES MUCH MORE PROTECTION THAN USING EITHER ONE ALONE. SIDE AIR BAGS REDUCE THE RISK OF OCCUPANTS HITTING THE DOOR OR OBJECTS THAT CRASH THROUGH IT. THEY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CHEST PROTECTION BY INFLATING INSTANTLY DURING MANY SIDE CRASHES; SOME, ALSO PROVIDE HEAD PROTECTION.
TIP: DESPITE NEW AIR-BAG TECHNOLOGY, DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SHOULD TAKE CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS. ALWAYS USE A SAFETY BELT. NOT USING ONE MEANS THAT YOU WILL BE THROWN FORWARD BY THE IMPACT INTO THE AIR BAG. DRIVERS SHOULD SIT AT LEAST 10 INCHES AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL; FRONT-SEAT PASSENGERS SHOULD SIT AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE. SOME MODELS HAVE ADJUSTABLE PEDALS TO ALLOW SHORTER DRIVERS TO SIT FURTHER FROM THE WHEEL. FINALLY, KEEP CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT. ALSO MAKE SURE THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF BEFORE ALLOWING A CHILD TO SIT IN THE FRONT.
AIR BAG SHUT ON-OFF SWITCHES: ITS VERY IMPORTANT THAT CARS WITH AIR BAGS COME WITH AN ON AND OFF SWITCH FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SWITCH CAN ACTIVE OR DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER/DRIVER AIRBAGS. IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING BUYING A TWO-SEAT SPORTS CAR, MAKE SURE IT HAS A PASSENGER SIDE SHUTOFF SWITCH (NOT ALL DO). AND REMEMBER, NEVER PLACE A SMALL CHILD IN THE FRONT SEAT NEAR AN ACTIVE AIRBAG, WHETHER IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT OR NOT.
HEAD INJURY PROTECTION: HEAD INJURY PROTECTION CONSISTS OF FOAM OR OTHER ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL UNDER THE TRIM OF THE CAR INTERIOR AND IS LIKELY TO BE INVISIBLE TO THE CAR OCCUPANTS. SOME CARS HAVE HEAD AIR BAGS. BOTH TYPES OF PROTECTION ARE DESIGNED TO SHIELD OCCUPANTS FROM INJURIES CAUSED WHEN THEIR HEAD STRIKES THE UPPER INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
HEAD RESTRAINTS:
HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE EXTENSIONS OF THE CAR'S SEATS THAT LIMIT HEAD MOVEMENT DURING A REAR-IMPACT CRASH, THUS, REDUCING THE PROBABILITY OF NECK INJURY. WHILE YOU MUST ADJUST MOST HEAD RESTRAINTS MANUALLY, SOME ADJUST AUTOMATICALLY WITH CHANGES IN SEAT POSITION OR IN A CRASH. YOU CAN MOVE THE MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTRAINTS UP AND DOWN (VERTICAL ADJUSTMENTS) AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, FORWARD AND BACKWARD (HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENTS). TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE TOP OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT SHOULD BE BETWEEN THE TOP OF YOUR EARS AND THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. HORIZONTAL PLACEMENT SHOULD BE AS CLOSE TO YOUR HEAD AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT PUSHING IT FORWARD OR CAUSING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT TO DROP. SOME CARS HAVE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS, AS NOTED IN THE CHARTS.
COLLAPSIBLE STEERING:
THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IN A COLLAPSIBLE STEERING WORKS IN TWO STAGES TO ABSORB IMPACT IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR CRASH. THIS PROTECTS THE DRIVER FROM BEING TRAPPED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT, DURING A COLLISION.
SEAT TYPE:
IN SOME CARS, THE FRONT SEATS INCORPORATE A STRONG STEEL FRAME WITH SIDE SUPPORT BRACKETS. THERE IS A STEEL PLATE IN-BUILT INTO THE SEAT FRAMES TO PREVENT THE OCCUPANTS FROM SLIDING FORWARD AND COLLIDING WITH THE FRONT IN CASE OF A FRONTAL IMPACT. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS PREVENT THE HEAD FROM BEING THROWN BACKWARDS AND HELP AVOID INJURIES.
NON-JAMMING DOORS:
THIS FEATURE PREVENTS THE REAR DOORS FROM JAMMING. DURING A HEAVY COLLISION THE FRONT DOORS ARE PUSHED OVER THE OUTER SKIN OF THE REAR DOORS, LEAVING THEM FREE TO OPEN.
CHILD SAFETY LOCK:
A CHILD SAFETY LOCK PREVENTS THE REAR DOORS FROM BEING ACCIDENTALLY OPENED FROM INSIDE. A METAL LATCH IS PROVIDED BENEATH THE REAR DOOR LOCKS, WHICH WHEN PUSHED DOWN, ACTIVATES THE LOCK. HOWEVER, THE DOOR CAN STILL BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE.