Dual
Stage Airbags:
Computer-operated dual deploy or dual-stage airbags. These
airbags can deploy at two speeds, or not at all, depending
on information sent to the computer from sensors located
in the seatbelts and front seats. In less severe accidents,
airbags deploy at the lower first stage, usually about
70 percent of full force. In more severe accidents, both
stages are deployed. Seat sensors in some systems also
can detect the weight of passengers and deploy only if
the occupant is above a certain weight - helping to prevent
airbag-related injuries to a child or small adult. NHTSA
required these air bags in all vehicles by 2005.
Side
Airbags:
Effective in preventing the driver and passengers from
head injuries due to the rigid areas of the vehicle in
side impact collisions. There are three designs of these
airbags, a tubular airbag that inflates from the roof,
a curtain design that employs from the roof or an airbag
deployed from the seat, inflating forward and up.
On-Off
Switches:
Many vehicles now come equipped with an airbag shut-off
switch to decrease the injury potential to a child or
small-stature adult.
Passenger
Sensing System:
Designed to help reduce the potential for inflation-induced
injuries or fatalities to smaller occupants, including
children, who may be seated improperly in front of an
active air bag. This advanced air bag system uses sensors
in the seat to collect information that helps the air
bag computer determine whether the front-seat passenger
air bag should inflate in a frontal crash. The sensors
gather information on the occupant's weight and the type
of pressure placed on the seat to help determine whether
there may be a smaller occupant present who may be at
greater risk of injury from a deploying air bag. The system
also uses a passenger-side belt sensor to measure how
much tension is exerted by the seat belt when latched,
another means of determining what may be on the seat.
Back Up Sensing System
A proximity sensor in the rear portion of the vehicle senses when the vehicle gets too close to an object and warns the driver. This feature is an option on many mini-vans and larger sized SUVs.
Electrochromatic Mirror/Auto Dimming Mirrors
These mirrors automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles approaching from the rear. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors become, making nighttime driving safer. About 10% of vehicle's sold in the US are currently equipped with this valuable safety feature.
Energy-Absorbing Steering System
The steering column is made to compress upon impact, preventing rib fractures. Risk of driver fatality has been reduced 12% due to this benefit, and serious injury and death risks have been lowered by as much as 38%.
Head Restraints
Restraints on the top of front, outer seats reduce the potential for whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. More advanced systems allow the back of the seat and headrest to move down and back upon a rear impact, lessening the forward motion and cutting down on head and neck injuries.
Heads Up Display (HUD)
The head-up display projects speed and other information onto the windshield in front of the driver's eyes allowing the driver to maintain view of the road.
Impact Absorbing Interior Materials
Impact absorbing interior materials provide padding and cushioning on dashboards and armrests to cut down on the bumps and bruises caused by crashes.
Padded Knee Bolster
The knee bolster works, in combination with the air bag and safety-belt-restraint system, to keep occupants carefully positioned for minimizing the stress on their bodies. Additionally, this feature helps prevent occupants from going beneath the instrument panel
Seat Belts
Seatbelts work by limiting movement of the body, when your vehicle has a sudden change of speed or direction. They keep you positioned in your seat, so you don't bounce around or get thrown from your vehicle. This positioning is also what is used to increase the effectiveness of the Airbag.
Front and Rear Lap/Shoulder Belts: A snug-fitting lap/shoulder belt is the prime factor in vehicle crash safety. Belts are designed to distribute restraining forces over strong skeletal structures, including the shoulder, rib cage and pelvis, to optimize protection during deceleration. When used, safety belts reduce the risk of driver fatality by 42% in motor vehicle crashes.
Seatbelt Pretensioners: are incorporated into the belt assemblies to remove slack from the seat belt during a collision. Within milliseconds of a crash, the pretensioner is activated and increases the tension of the seat belt system around the occupant. This is what keeps you from bouncing around and keeps you in the proper position to benefit from the airbag if the crash is severe enough to trigger them.
ALR/ELR (Automatic Locking Retractor and Emergency Locking Retractor): This feature is especially important to parents installing child safety seats. ALR/ELR seatbelts are designed to take up slack in the belt automatically and to lock in place when the passenger or child safety seat moves forward at a higher than normal rate of speed. When installing a child safety seat, these seatbelts must be as latched as tight as possible.
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children): LATCH is a system that makes child seat installation easier - without using seat belts. LATCH is required on all child seats (except car beds, booster seats and vests) and vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002. LATCH-equipped vehicles have at least two sets of small bars, called anchors, located in the back seat where the cushions meet. LATCH-equipped child seats have a lower set of attachments that fasten to these vehicle anchors.
Front and Rear Lap/Shoulder Belts: A snug-fitting lap/shoulder belt is the prime factor in vehicle crash safety. Belts are designed to distribute restraining forces over strong skeletal structures, including the shoulder, rib cage and pelvis, to optimize protection during deceleration. When used, safety belts reduce the risk of driver fatality by 42% in motor vehicle crashes.
