Vehicles are much safer now than those made even a few decades ago. Modern vehicles are now designed with significant safety features that make it much easier to prevent car accidents and reduce the severity of injuries.
Modern vehicles have types of safety features that do two different things. Passive safety features are the oldest but have improved over the years. Passive safety features only work when accidents occur.
Active safety features are those that help prevent accidents from happening. They use a variety of technologies to help drivers avoid dangerous situations that might cause accidents.
Both active and passive safety features protect drivers and their passengers. The continual development and improvement of safety features over the years have helped reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.
Common Passive Safety Features
Seat belts are one of the first passive safety features. Seat belts have improved greatly and are mandatory in all types of vehicles. Studies show that wearing a seat belt greatly reduces the potential for an injury or fatality.
Other common passive safety systems include:
- Airbags.
- Side-impact beams.
- Shatterproof glass.
Side-impact beams help protect against the force of a T-bone accident or another side collision. Shatterproof glass helps prevent lacerations and ejections during accidents.
Common Active Safety Features
Active safety features make it easier for drivers to know when a potential traffic danger exists. While passive systems only work when an accident happens, active systems work before an accident occurs. Common active safety features include:
- Anti-lock braking systems.
- Adaptive cruise control.
- Electronic stability and traction control.
- Lane departure warning.
- Blind spot monitoring.
When the wheels lock up, vehicles often lose traction. Anti-lock braking systems prevent the brakes from locking up the wheels while making an emergency stop.
Adaptive cruise control automatically adjusts the speed and following distance when you are behind other vehicles.
Electronic stability adjusts the suspension to help maintain control, while traction control reduces power to wheels when necessary.
Lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring are similar and help stop your vehicle from wandering into another lane or cutting off a vehicle that is in your blind spot.
Bowie Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King Help Accident Survivors
You can meet with one of our experienced Bowie car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King if you have been injured in a collision. Call us at 202-331-1963 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation. Located in Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Virginia, and National Harbor, Maryland, we serve clients in Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, College Park, Greenbelt, Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, Largo, Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Suitland, Seat Pleasant, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, and Fort Washington.
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