Car Safety Innovations Flashcards
What is Crash Testing?
Crash testing involves controlled collisions of cars to evaluate their ability to protect occupants. It helps identify weaknesses in design and improve overall vehicle safety.
What is Euro NCAP?
Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) provides safety ratings for cars based on crash tests. Higher ratings (up to 5 stars) indicate better safety performance.
What are Passive Safety Features?
Passive safety features are designed to protect occupants during a crash, such as airbags, seat belts, and crumple zones.
What are Crumple Zones?
Crumple zones are areas of a car designed to deform and absorb energy during a crash, protecting the occupants by reducing the impact forces.
How do Airbags work?
Airbags are passive safety devices that inflate in milliseconds during a crash, providing a cushion that reduces the risk of injury for occupants.
What are Active Safety Features?
Active safety features aim to prevent accidents from occurring. Examples include anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and lane-keeping assist.
What is Electronic Stability Control (ESC)?
ESC is an active safety system that helps prevent skidding by automatically applying brakes to individual wheels and reducing engine power when needed.
What is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)?
Adaptive Cruise Control is an ADAS feature that adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, improving highway safety.
What is Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)?
AEB detects an impending collision and automatically applies the brakes to prevent or mitigate the crash, enhancing safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
What is Lane Departure Warning (LDW)?
LDW is an ADAS feature that warns the driver if the vehicle unintentionally starts to drift out of its lane, reducing the risk of side collisions.
How does Blind Spot Detection work?
Blind spot detection uses sensors to monitor areas alongside and behind the car, alerting the driver to vehicles in blind spots during lane changes.
What is a Collision Avoidance System?
A collision avoidance system uses cameras, radar, and sensors to detect obstacles and take preventive actions, like braking or steering, to avoid an accident.
What is the purpose of a Seat Belt Pretensioner?
Seat belt pretensioners automatically tighten the seat belt upon sensing a crash, reducing the forward movement of occupants and enhancing restraint effectiveness.
What are Pedestrian Detection Systems?
Pedestrian detection systems identify pedestrians in the car’s path and can warn the driver or automatically apply the brakes to prevent accidents.
What is Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)?
RCTA warns the driver of approaching traffic from the side when reversing out of parking spaces, helping to avoid collisions with unseen vehicles.
