Safety of driver and passengers - check what safety systems use the best

Modern technology has one basic advantage - it can save lives.It is no different in the case of safety systems used in modern cars.Equipment and innovations that can be found in vehicles can cause dizziness, but there are those that are worth paying attention to.We introduce systems focused on driver and passengers' safety, which can be found at the largest players of the automotive market.

Collision warning systems with a preceding vehicle

The VAG concern equips its cars with the front assist, which can also be found from other manufacturers, but under other names - the operation methodology is almost identical.The system actively monitors the distance from the vehicle ahead with two radar sensors and warns visually and sound when the distance becomes dangerously small.If the obstacle is detected and the driver does not react to the emerging signals, the vehicle will start the braking system in emergency mode, thus minimizing the effects of a possible collision.

Interestingly, once such systems were reserved only for premium cars.Today, they appear more and more often in cars from various segments, and many manufacturers are expanding the system to detect collisions with belts stretching or closing windows and sunroof, which is to ensure even greater safety of travelers.

Let's add that Volvo Cars was the first to introduce the City Safety security system as a standard in every new car.City Safety uses radars and cameras technology to identify other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and large animals at day and night.If he detects the risk of collision, in the absence of a driver's reaction he can not only automatically turn on the brakes.If the driver begins to perform an obstacle maneuver, the steering wheel support system will also start (standard equipment in the 60 and 90 series models).

Driving assistant - yes, but with additional options

As we mentioned, in 2022 all new cars should be equipped with the so -called.Electronic active safety systems.This is nothing but driving assistants that we can already find in individual models.Is it worth choosing electronic systems assisting the driver while driving, for which we currently have to additionally pay extra?In the case of safety, there should be no discussion here, but we must also remember that an additional system in the car will not release us from vigilance and appropriate response to threat on the road.Current systems play a supporting role, not a hardening driver.

For example, an American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study shows that the warning system itself is not passing the exam.The study took into account the influence of active safety systems on the number of road events and their effects.Claims submitted in 2013-2017 were analyzed by BMW car owners.What turns out?Cars equipped with this function had 2% more events, the value of financial claims related to vehicle damage increased by 5% and the amount of proceedings related to body damage increased by as much as 11%.Researchers concluded that drivers, with such systems, feel safer and even too safe.

The combination of several active systems is much better.For example, a set with an automatic braking assistant from the front obstacle and the warning system against lowering the lane reduced the number of collisions by 5%, the amount of claims - by 6%, and the amount of proceedings related to body damage by 16%.When adding adaptive cruise control and assistant to keep the lane, the results are impressive - the decrease in the value of claims against vehicle damage was 27%, and the amounts due to body damage by 37%.

Similar conclusions were drawn in the Volvo brand.Here, the City Safety system underwent a lot of evolution - from a system operating to 30 km/h, later up to 50 km/h, and today it operates up to a speed of 180 km/h.Along with its development, the number of reproduced sheet metal damages - especially urban bumps, in which the driver inadvertently entered the rear of the car in front of him.The first model in which this phenomenon was observed was the V40 model produced in 2012-2019.The Volvo brand offered City Safety as the standard equipment of all its models and it is still today.Because EU law is getting worse and obliges all manufacturers to use an increasing number of active security systems, their popularity increases and they are available not only in premium cars.

Popular cars also have similar systems.The Toyota Corolla in Poland has a standard to prevent frontal collisions and pedestrian deduction, adaptive cruise control and lane holding system.A similar safety set can be found in the octavia Skoda, except that the active safety technology in this model requires an additional payment.

Driver monitoring systems and cameras

DDS driver's fatigue detection system is already common in Opel models, for example in Zafira Life.The system monitors the level of driver concentration - if it detects a decrease, the electronics will tell you that driving a vehicle should be stopped and going for a break.How it's working?After two hours of driving at a speed above 65 km/h, the system emits the warning signal.The system analyzes the way the vehicle is driven, repetitive patterns, such as frequent crossing of the bus line, and then emits the sound signals.After 10 minutes of safe driving.

Car brands next to systems analyzing the driving style assemble cameras directed at the driver's eyesight.BMW already uses infrared sensors to assess the level of focus.Volvo made even further announcements.In the future generation of cars based on the SPA2 platform, it will install a set of infrared cameras and sensors to analyze the entire face of the driver, to detect not only fatigue, but also a disorder of concentration caused by alcohol, drugs or too strong drugs.In the event of detection, signs of intoxication or loss of consciousness (like closed eyes, etc..) the system will start emitting signals.If the driver does not react, the car will automatically reduce the speed and even call for help via the Volvo On Call.

Finally, it is worth recalling that although in cars we will find both active and passive driving or driver control systems, but in the hands of the driver lies his safety and safety of passengers.Safety systems are increasingly advanced and can take control of the car, but the driver should always be alert, observe road signs and predict situations that he should react quickly and properly.And even more so he should not go behind the circle on intoxicants or very tired.The current European legislation is aimed at that the driver concentration monitoring systems become standard equipment.Who knows, maybe driving under the influence of alcohol will not be possible at all?