Driving assistance systems - modern solutions for safety

Airbags are not everything

Until recently, cars equipped with ABS and ESP systems were the dream of most drivers. When they finally entered mass production, hardly anyone was inclined to suppose that they were only a preview (and not the culmination) of what modern technologies will be able to offer drivers in the future. And so it happened: technology has moved forward, and with it the number of solutions for passenger cars has increased. Therefore, airbags are already standard today, which are installed not only on the driver's side (in the steering wheel) and the passenger traveling next to him (in the pit), but also in the roof lining or in the door panels. And it doesn't really matter in this context whether we are talking about sedans or versatile urban compacts. This is demonstrated, for example, by the new ŠKODA Scala, which is equipped with as many as 9 airbags that are part of the Crew Protect Assist system, which includes, among others, curtain airbags and side airbags (sewn into the seat and rear seat upholstery). ŠKODA engineers have also provided one airbag specifically for the driver - mounted at the bottom of the steering wheel, it protects the driver's knees against injuries resulting from contact with the lower part of the dashboard.

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Without sensors, don't move

However, the list of systems that improve the safety and comfort of the driver (and, of course, the passengers traveling with him) does not end there. No wonder: today, car users are looking for complete and well-thought-out solutions that will support them in all situations. That is why systems that were previously only available in premium class vehicles were finally being installed in compact cars. They include e.g. blind spot sensors (warning about the presence of cars approaching from behind), cameras monitoring sudden, unexpected lane changes or systems controlling the situation in front of the car in real time. Today, all these solutions are able to operate in a semi-automatic manner - sometimes even competing with the driver's conscious (and most often too slow) reactions. The systems described are available in the new ŠKODA Scala, which can also be equipped with a Driver Alert sensor that monitors the level of driver fatigue, Hill Hold Control module to support hill starts or an extensive Side Assist system (useful especially in parking lots, especially when leaving perpendicular parking spaces ) with blind spot monitoring function.

Reliable LEDs

There was also a breakthrough in the external lighting of today's cars. Halogen bulbs and xenon lamps have finally been replaced by more effective and more reliable headlights produced in LED technology, capable not only of illuminating curves and corners in tight parking spaces, but also adapting to the conditions prevailing on the road at a given time.

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Dynamic, adaptive lighting systems switch automatically between individual light distribution modes, thus providing the driver with the best possible illumination of the roadway (their performance is the result of many variables, such as car speed, steering angle, etc.). The sprinklers paired with them are responsible for their optimal condition and guarantee their maximum effectiveness in all weather conditions.

Little things are worth their weight in gold

Manufacturers of modern compact cars, however, do not forget about the little things that also have a significant impact on the driver's comfort. And it's not just about adaptive cruise control or parallel parking assist systems, but also about electric, fully automatic photochromic side and rear mirrors (after dark they dim themselves to protect the driver from glare) or heated windscreen washer jets.

All these systems can be found in the new ŠKODA Scala, which has already made its market debut. Her example proves irrefutably that the driving assistance systems installed in modern, urban compact cars are able to take care of the driver no worse than the solutions found in, for example, premium sedans. It is impossible to evaluate this trend otherwise than positively - it contributes not only to improving the well-being of drivers, but also translates into an increase in overall road safety.

This article was written in cooperation with ŠKODA.