An Overview of Vehicle Safety Equipment
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Buckle your seatbelt; it’s the single most effective measure you can do to stay alive on the road. Even without other safety measures like forward collision warning and automated emergency braking, simply wearing a safety belt may reduce fatalities significantly.
Safety features that prevent skidding, or ABS, are installed on vehicles – Without anti-lock brakes, locking up the wheels (preventing them from rotating) during heavy braking was a common occurrence. When the front tyres slip, it becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible, to steer. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) eliminates this by monitoring wheel speed and adjusting the force used by each brake to prevent lock-up. With ABS, the driver may continue to steer the vehicle while applying the brakes, giving them more options for avoiding or navigating around obstacles. Some vulnerable road users may be startled by the pulsating feeling sent by the brake pedal and the chattering at the wheels upon activation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Not to worry. This is the mechanism of swiftly applying the brakes to generate maximum power and control. The key is to floor the gas pedal and trust the machine to take care of the rest.
In-wheel electronic control of traction – To ensure the drive wheels maintain optimal traction during acceleration, an electronic control system minimises wheel spin. It’s especially helpful when you need to get going in slippery weather or when you have a powerful engine. Traction-control systems can function solely at low speeds or any speed.Most traction-control systems utilise the car’s anti-lock braking system to briefly halt a spinning wheel. This transmits power to the opposing driving wheel. Some systems additionally may throttle down the engine, and upshift the transmission, to prevent wheel spin.
Enhanced safety thanks to electronic stability control – Electronic stability control (ESC) takes traction control a step further. To prevent the vehicle from sliding or skidding during a turn, this mechanism assists to maintain it on the desired course. It employs a computer attached to several sensors—detecting wheel speed, steering angle, sideways motion, and yaw (rotation). If the automobile drifts outside the driver’s desired path, the stability-control system briefly brakes one or more wheels and, depending on the system, decreases engine power to bring the car back on track.
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) -All cars are now obliged to feature the LATCH system to make child-seat installation easier and more secure. The system incorporates lower anchors and top tether connection points to accommodate child safety seats that are compliant with the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. This system was developed to remove obstacles and incompatibilities associated with installing safety belts and increasing the likelihood that child restraints will be used. However, we’ve discovered a few vehicles in which the LATCH system is particularly challenging to use correctly, so we recommend giving seat installation a try before purchasing a new child seat. Our road test results might serve as a guide for comfort and compatibility.