Explanation of vehicle safety features

We all want our vehicles to be as safe as possible, and the latest vehicles are full of smart tech and technology to protect you, your passengers, and the people around you. Here we explain your vehicle's safety features and how they work to keep everyone safe.

What makes a car safe?

The first line of defense for road traffic is careful and alert driving. But it's good to know that car safety has improved a lot in the last 20 years. Cars are built much stronger than before and provide better protection during a crash. They also have a variety of electronic safety systems that can reduce the chance of an accident in the first place. 

New types of metal and improved manufacturing methods make modern car designs more impact resistant. Cars also have larger "crumple zones" or "crush structures" that absorb much of the energy generated in a collision and direct it away from passengers.   

Electronic or "active" safety systems monitor road conditions and where your car is in relation to the environment. Some will warn you of potential danger, and some will even intervene on your behalf if necessary. Different cars have different features, although many of them are now required in new cars by law. (We'll look at these in more detail later.)

What are seat belts?

The seat belts keep you in place in the event of an accident. Without a seat belt, you could hit the dashboard, another passenger, or even be thrown out of the car, causing serious injury. The belt is attached to the structure of the vehicle body and is strong enough to lift the entire vehicle. Recent cars also have other features that work with the belts, including pretensioners that pull them very tight if sensors detect an impending crash.

What are airbags?

Airbags prevent contact with parts of the vehicle's interior that could cause injury. Most new cars have at least six airbags on the front and side of the car to protect the passengers' heads. Many cars also have airbags at body and knee height, and some even have airbags in the seat belts to protect the chest and between the front seats to prevent occupants from crashing into each other. Whether or not the airbags deploy depends on the severity of the impact (although in the US they deploy when the speed limit is exceeded). Airbags only fully protect you when you are wearing a seat belt.

Airbags in the Mazda CX-30

More Automotive Technology Guides

What is an in-car infotainment system?

Explanation of warning lights on car dashboard

What is an anti-lock brake system?

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents the vehicle from skidding during hard braking. Sensors detect when a wheel is about to stop spinning or "lock up" and then automatically release and re-engage the brake on that wheel to prevent skidding. You'll know when the ABS is activated because you'll feel it judder back through the brake pedal. By keeping the car's wheels spinning, ABS significantly shortens the distance it takes to stop the car and makes it easier to turn when braking, helping you stay in control.  

Brakes on Nissan Juke R.

What is electronic stability control?

Like ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), also known as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), is another system that prevents a vehicle from skidding out of control. Where ABS prevents skidding under braking, ESC prevents skidding when cornering. If the sensors detect that a wheel is about to skid, they will brake that wheel and/or reduce power to keep the vehicle on a straight and narrow road. 

Electronic stability control in action (photo: Bosch)

What is traction control?

The traction control system prevents the vehicle's wheels from losing traction and spinning during acceleration, which can lead to loss of control. If the sensors detect that a wheel is about to spin, they reduce the power supplied to that wheel. This is especially useful when the road is slippery with rain, mud, or ice, which can make it much easier for the wheels to lose traction.

BMW iX in the snow

What is driver assistance?

Driver assistance is a general term for safety systems that monitor the area around a moving vehicle and warn you if a potentially dangerous situation arises. More advanced features can even take over control of the car if the driver doesn't respond.

Many of these features are now required by law, but car manufacturers include others as standard or as optional extras on most models. Among the most common are automatic emergency braking, which can perform an emergency stop if the driver does not respond to an impending collision; Lane Departure Warning, which warns you if your vehicle veers out of its lane; and Blind Spot Alert, which lets you know if another vehicle is in your vehicle's blind spot.

What is the Euro NCAP Safety Rating?

When you're looking for a new car, you might stumble upon its Euro NCAP rating and wonder what that means. Euro NCAP is a European new car assessment program designed to improve vehicle safety.

Euro NCAP buys new cars anonymously and subject them to a series of checks under controlled conditions. These include crash tests, which show how the vehicle behaves in typical collisions, as well as a test of the vehicle's safety features and their effectiveness.

Its star rating system makes it easy to compare the safety of different cars: each is assigned a star rating, five of which are top. Euro NCAP criteria have become tougher over the years, so a car that received five stars 10 years ago probably wouldn't get the same today because it lacked the latest safety features.

Euro NCAP Subaru Outback crash test

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