Top 7 Most Popular Car Safety Systems Today

Car safety system are devices and features equipped on the vehicle to protect the driver and passengers when an accident or incident occurs.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), each year about 1,35 million people die from traffic accidents globally.

However, this number has decreased significantly thanks to the development of car safety systems. Therefore, more and more consumers are interested in these features when they want to buy a car.

Currently, car safety systems are divided into two main groups: active safety systems and passive safety systems. Among them, the most prominent are still the following 2 systems: ABS braking system, safety airbag system, blind spot warning system, ESP electronic balance system, hill start assist system, Collision warning system and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control system.

To better understand the most popular car safety systems today, let's explore through the following article!

Introduction to Car Safety Systems

Car safety systems are devices designed to minimize the risk of injury in the event of an accident or collision.

Specific roles of safety systems:

• Minimize the risk of accidents: Active safety systems such as ABS braking system, ESP system, collision warning system,... help drivers detect and promptly handle dangerous situations above. road, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents.
• Minimize the severity of accidents: When an accident occurs, passive safety systems such as airbags, seat belts, vehicle frames, etc. will help protect the driver and passengers from strong impacts. , minimizing the risk of serious injury or death.
• Enhance driver confidence: When knowing that they are protected by modern safety systems, drivers will feel more confident when driving, thereby being able to focus more on driving and driving. handle situations on the road.

With the advancement of technology and new materials, safety systems are becoming more modern and more efficient, meeting the increasing needs of consumers.

Classification of Safety Systems in Cars

Car safety systems can be divided into two main categories: active safety systems and passive safety systems.

1. Active safety system

Active safety systems are systems that work proactively to prevent or reduce the possibility of a collision. These systems use sensors, radar, cameras and signal processors to continuously monitor the vehicle's surroundings, detect potential dangers and intervene promptly to help the driver control the vehicle safely. more complete.

Common types of active safety systems:

• Anti-lock braking system ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).
• Electronic stability program (ESP) (Electronic Stability Program).
• TCS traction control system (Traction Control System).
• FCW (Forward Collision Warning) front collision warning system.
• AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) automatic emergency braking system.
• LDW (Lane Departure Warning) lane departure warning system.
• Adaptive cruise control system ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control).

2. Passive safety system

Passive safety systems are equipment on the vehicle that protect passengers when a collision occurs. The main purpose of these systems is to absorb impact shock, minimize injuries and increase the likelihood of survival for passengers.

Common types of passive safety systems:

• Seatbelt.
• Airbags (Airbags).
• The body structure is collision compatible.
• Seat and headrest prevent neck injury.
• Safety windshield and window glass.
• The steering column collapses upon impact.
• The brake and clutch pedals tilt forward upon impact.

7 Popular Car Safety Systems

7 Popular car safety systems include: ABS braking system, safety airbag system, blind spot warning system, ESP electronic stability system, hill start assist system, Collision warning system and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control system.

1. ABS braking system - Anti-lock braking system

The ABS braking system equipped on cars helps prevent the wheels from locking in cases of sudden braking, preventing the wheels from sliding on the road surface. Thanks to that, the driver can easily control the steering direction and ensure the vehicle body is always in a more stable condition.

The ABS braking system brings many important benefits to the driver:

• Minimize the risk of losing vehicle control: When braking suddenly on slippery roads, ABS brakes help prevent the wheels from locking, allowing the driver to maintain vehicle control and avoid collisions.
• Shorten braking distance: By maintaining optimal traction, ABS brakes help shorten braking distance compared to conventional braking systems.
• Increase stability when braking: ABS brakes help prevent the vehicle from deflecting when braking on uneven roads or when there is a difference in grip between the wheels.

2. Safety airbag system

Airbags are one of the most important passive safety systems in a car. When the collision sensor detects a strong impact force, the airbag will send a signal to the controller. The controller will activate the compressed air pump, deploying the airbag in just 0,01 to 0,03 seconds.

Airbag installation locations on the vehicle: Front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, knee airbags.

Airbags are designed to work in conjunction with seat belts, creating a comprehensive protection system for passengers. When a collision occurs, the airbag will absorb most of the impact force, minimizing the force transmitted to the passenger's body. This helps minimize the risk of serious injury to the head, neck, chest, and other parts of the body.

However, to ensure maximum safety, passengers need to wear seat belts properly and adjust their sitting position appropriately. Children under 12 years old and people under 1m4 in height should not sit in the front seat because of the risk of injury from airbags.

3. Blind spot warning system

The Blind Spot Warning system uses ultrasonic or radar sensors installed at the rear of the vehicle to detect vehicles in the blind spot of the rearview mirror. When there is a vehicle in the blind spot, the system will warn the driver with LED lights on the mirror or a beep.

Some systems also integrate cameras, helping the driver see vehicles in blind spots more clearly through the central screen.

According to research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), blind spot warning systems help reduce collisions when changing lanes by 14%. This number increases to 23% when combined with an automatic intervention system.

Although very useful, blind spot warning systems are not a substitute for driver observation and attention.

4. ESP electronic balance system

The ESP electronic stability system uses sensors to continuously monitor the vehicle's speed, steering angle, horizontal acceleration and rotational velocity. When detecting that the vehicle is unstable, ESP will automatically adjust the braking force on each wheel and intervene in the steering system and engine to help the vehicle maintain the desired trajectory.

ESP provides many important benefits in keeping the vehicle safe and stable, especially in difficult situations:

• When turning sharply or changing direction suddenly: ESP will help keep the road stable and prevent loss of control when the driver steers quickly or unexpectedly.
• When driving in bad weather and slippery road conditions: On slippery road surfaces caused by rain, snow, ice or sand, ESP will continuously adjust braking force and engine power to maintain traction and avoid skidding. .
• When avoiding obstacles: In an emergency situation, when the driver must steer or brake suddenly to avoid a collision, ESP will assist in stabilizing the vehicle body and minimizing the risk of overturning the vehicle.

5. Hill departure support system

The Hill Start Assist system helps the driver easily start the vehicle on steep terrain without drifting backwards.

When the vehicle stops on a slope, the tilt angle sensor will determine the slope of the plane and send a signal to the controller. If the slope exceeds the set threshold (usually 3-5 degrees), the system will automatically activate the brakes and maintain brake pressure for about 1-2 seconds after the driver releases the foot brake.

The hill start assist system brings many practical benefits to the driver:

• Avoid the car drifting when starting on a slope: With this system, the driver does not have to worry about the car drifting backwards when switching from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal, making starting safer and easier.
• Helps drivers feel more confident when driving on mountainous terrain: The hill start assist system helps drivers feel more confident when driving on steep slopes, especially those who are new or do not have much experience. experience.

6. Collision warning system and automatic emergency braking

Forward Collision Warning systems use radar or camera sensors to continuously monitor the distance and speed of the vehicle ahead.

When detecting a risk of collision, the system will warn the driver using the following methods:

• Using radar or camera to detect obstacles: The system uses radar waves or processes images from cameras to determine the location, distance and speed of vehicles and obstacles in front of the vehicle.
• Audible and visual warnings when there is a risk of collision: If the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle rapidly decreases or falls below the safe threshold, the system will issue an audible warning signal (such as a beep) and shows a warning on the screen (like a red car icon).

Some collision warning systems also incorporate an automatic emergency braking function (Autonomous Emergency Braking). When detecting a high risk of collision and the driver cannot react in time, the system will automatically brake the vehicle to minimize the consequences.

7. Adaptive cruise control system

Adaptive Cruise Control is an enhanced version of traditional cruise control. This device uses radar to track the vehicle ahead and automatically adjusts speed to maintain a safe distance.

Adaptive cruise control brings many benefits to the driver:

• Helps the driver be more comfortable when driving long distances: On long distances, especially highways, the system helps the driver avoid feeling tired due to constantly adjusting the throttle and brakes.
• Enhanced safety and fuel economy: By maintaining a steady distance and speed, the system helps reduce the risk of collisions due to unsafe driving. At the same time, limiting sudden increases and decreases in speed also helps save fuel.

Questions Related to Car Safety Systems

1. How does the ABS anti-lock braking system work?

ABS uses wheel speed sensors to detect when the wheels are locking under braking. The system will then quickly reduce brake fluid pressure in that wheel, allowing the wheel to continue spinning and maintain traction. This process repeats continuously at a speed of up to 15 times/second, helping to shorten braking distance by 30 - 40% on wet roads. Read the article now: The car's brakes are locked – Causes & most effective solutions are shared on the website.

2. What should drivers pay attention to when the vehicle is equipped with airbags?

When the vehicle is equipped with airbags, the driver should pay attention to the following issues:

• Always wear your seat belt properly even when an air bag is present.
• Adjust the seat so that it is at least 25cm away from the steering wheel to avoid injury when the airbag deploys.
• Do not let children sit in the front seats because airbags can be dangerous.
• Do not attach hard, sharp objects to the steering wheel or dashboard.
• Replace airbags after they have deployed in a collision.

3. How many meters does the blind spot warning system operate within?

Typically, blind spot warning systems use radar waves that operate within a range of 3-5m to the rear and 0,5-3,5m to the sides of the vehicle body. Some systems can detect vehicles up to 70m away. See the article now: Solution to overcome Blind spots on cars safest and most accurate, shared by many experts.

4. How is ESP different from TSC anti-slip system and EBD electronic brake force distribution?

ESP integrates both TSC and EBD, and adds the function of stabilizing the vehicle body when cornering by actively braking the wheels selectively.

5. Can the forward collision warning system detect pedestrians and bicycles?

Many modern collision warning systems use camera technology combined with AI image processing capable of distinguishing pedestrians and bicycles from other vehicles and obstacles. However, the detection range for pedestrians is usually shorter, about 40-80m compared to 100-200m for cars. Warning ability also depends on lighting and weather conditions.

6. Can the automatic emergency braking system completely avoid a collision?

Automatic emergency braking systems can significantly reduce the risk and consequences of a collision, but they cannot always completely avoid accidents. The effectiveness of the system depends on operating conditions such as vehicle speed, obstacle detection distance, traction, weather...

According to IIHS, automatic emergency braking systems help reduce the number of head-on collisions by 50% and the number of collisions with injuries by 56%.

7. Is adaptive cruise control suitable for city driving?

Most adaptive cruise control systems only work well at speeds above 30-40km/h. When driving in the inner city with high traffic density, low speed and frequent stops, this system will be ineffective and even cause inconvenience to the driver. Adaptive cruise control works best when driving at high speeds on the highway.

8. What minimum safety systems do cars need to be equipped with?

Basic safety systems that should be on every modern car include:

• Seat belts for all seats.
• ABS anti-lock braking system.
• EBD electronic brake force distribution system.
• Airbags for the front seats.
• ESP electronic balance system.
• The chassis is crash-compatible with shock-absorbing crumple zones.

9. When should vehicle safety systems be maintained?

You should take your car to an authorized garage for a comprehensive check of the safety system every 20.000 - 30.000km.

10. What are the latest safety technologies in cars today?

Some advanced safety technologies are being applied on new car models:

• 360 degree vehicle surrounding observation system.
• Safety door opening warning system to avoid collision with following vehicles.
• The driver warning system is about to fall asleep based on behavioral monitoring.
• Vector traction control system.
• The steering assist system actively avoids obstacles.
• The system automatically parks and assists in exiting the parking space.

Read more articles: Summary of these Passive safety features in cars You definitely have to know the most complete information shared on the website.

11. Where is a good place to take your car for maintenance and repair?

With many years of experience in the industry, Thanh Phong Auto gradually asserting its position in the professional auto repair and maintenance market. We possess advantages such as:

• A team of enthusiastic technicians with high professional qualifications, capable of repairing and maintaining almost all car models.
• Large and airy garage system.
• Fully equipped with modern and advanced machinery.
• Import genuine auto parts, competitive prices.

Thanh Phong Auto is committed to providing quality repair and maintenance services, saying no to customers reporting illnesses or boiling items. Repaired vehicles have a thoughtful and long-term warranty.

If customers do not have time or are not convenient to bring their car to the garage for repair, we can provide it On-site car rescue service in Ho Chi Minh City.