There are an average of six million car accidents in the US each year, and the safety features standard on those vehicles mean that only a fraction of those accidents result in death or severe injury. Some of these basic safety features are mandated by the federal government for each manufacturer to include in the design, but what are they?
Airbags
Since 1999, front airbags have been mandatory for most types of vehicles. These safety features are so ubiquitous that you would be hard-pressed to find a new Ford for sale without multiple airbags and sensors for different types of impacts. Airbags work by sensors in various locations registering an impact of sufficient force, usually five or more miles an hour, and relaying a signal to the deployment actuator. This sets off an explosive to quickly fill the airbag and create a cushion between vehicle surfaces and the people inside. This cushion has vents designed to slowly deflate as the passenger makes contact, reducing the speed and force and allowing a softer impact.
Traction Control
Traction control systems became mandatory for passenger vehicles in 2011, and modern vehicles use the antilock brake system, engine throttle, transmission, or a combination of all three to limit wheel spin during acceleration. This allows the wheels maximum traction and is useful when starting during inclement weather conditions, such as rain or ice, or when hitting the gas in a high-horsepower engine.
Seat Belts
One of the oldest mandated safety features, seat belts have been required in all passenger cars since 1968. Seat belts are straps designed to secure a passenger to the seat while spreading the force of impact along secure parts of a human body. The shoulders and hips are the safest places to anchor a person in this fashion and reduce the impact on internal organs. Because of the need to safely secure people of different heights and weights, some vehicles have adjustable shoulder straps, and those under minimum height and weight requirements will need a booster or car seat.
Anti-lock Brakes/ABS
Starting in the year 2000, all new passenger cars are mandated to have anti-lock brake systems, but manufacturers are also placing these essential safety features in other types of vehicles. This system essentially replaces the need to pump the brakes when trying to slow to a stop in slippery road conditions because the system will do it for you. It does this through sensors in each wheel that detect and maximize braking on the individual wheel level to prevent lock-up. If you have ever slammed on the brakes while driving and felt the pedal kick pack at your foot a couple of times, this is your ABS working as intended.
Things To Keep in Mind
Even though the federal government mandates these and many more safety features in new vehicles, many manufacturers choose to err on caution and install a more robust safety system than is strictly required. This is because motor vehicle accidents can include tremendous amounts of deadly force that need to be directed away from the driver and passengers as much as possible. Many safety features developed in recent decades are as focused on avoiding accidents as they are on minimizing injuries, such as ABS, traction control and even backup cameras and drift sensors.
