passive safety

Security systems assets and liabilities described above help to produce safer cars. The effectiveness of these systems are tested and measured during impact tests (or crash tests) by international organizations such as the EuroNCAP for the European community. A car safe for passengers is now a selling point for automakers who are working hard on the issue.

Real progress has been made in recent years, particularly in regard to the "airbags" (airbags) or belts pretensioners avoiding shock violating the driver on the steering wheel. On convertibles, hoops behind the seats back very quickly when the computer believes there is a risk of rollover. Automakers are also working on systems even more efficient. Is an important advance in this area is that the number of airbags from two to eight in a few years. No car anymore without being fitted out.

If passengers are getting better protected, however this was not necessarily the case for pedestrians. The new safety standards take into account the damage brought to them during a frontal impact. These changes have led manufacturers to develop hoods and front fenders able to absorb some of the impact energy to minimize the damage to the pedestrian. Some vehicles are equipped with pyrotechnic trigger and raising the hood a few centimeters in an accident, can prevent or limit the impact of a pedestrian with the engine block.