VEHICLE SAFETY Instructions: Use the arrows or swipe left / right to browse through the slides. (The slideshow will autoplay unless you click the PAUSE button.) When you have completed your review of all slides, click on the X in the upper right corner of the presentation to return to your lesson. The terms "active safety" and "passive safety" are simple but important terms in the world of automotive safety. "Active safety" refers to technology assisting in the prevention of a crash and "passive safety" refers to components of the vehicle (primarily airbags, seatbelts and the physical structure of the vehicle) that help to protect occupants during a crash. CRASH AVOIDANCE Crash avoidance systems and devices (such as headlamps, reflectors, lights, signals, mirrors, brakes, steering and suspension systems) help the driver to avoid a collision. DRIVER ASSISTANCE A subset of crash avoidance is driver assistance systems, which help the driver to detect ordinarily hidden obstacles and to control the vehicle. Several driver assistance systems were mentioned in the video, such as automatic braking, adaptive headlights, backup camera, lane departure warnings, etc. Crashworthy systems and devices prevent or reduce the severity of injuries when a crash is imminent or actually happening. Crashworthiness is measured by a structure’s ability to protect its occupants or users during an impact. Much of this research is carried out using crash test dummies. Seatbelts limit the forward motion of an occupant, stretch to slow down the occupant’s deceleration in a crash and prevent occupants being ejected from the vehicle. Headrests protect vehicle occupants from whiplash. Adjusting your headrest is an important step before driving. Airbags inflate to cushion the impact of a vehicle occupant with various parts of the vehicle's interior. Laminated windshields remain in one piece when impacted, preventing passage of unbelted occupants' heads and maintaining a minimal but adequate transparency for control of the car immediately following a collision. Tempered glass side and rear windows break into granules with minimally sharp edges, rather than splintering into jagged fragments as ordinary glass does. Crumple zones absorb and dissipate the force of a collision, displacing and diverting it away from the passenger compartment and reducing the impact force on the vehicle occupants. Vehicles will include a front, rear and sometimes side crumple zones too. Side impact protection beams can also absorb some of the energy created during a collision. Collapsible universally jointed steering columns, (with the steering system mounted behind the front axle -not in the front crumple zone); reduce the risk and severity of driver impalement on the column in a frontal crash. Padding of the instrument panel and other interior parts of the vehicle likely to be struck by the occupants during a crash also reduces this risk. Cargo barriers are sometimes fitted to provide a physical barrier between passenger and cargo compartments in vehicles such as SUVs, station wagons and vans. These help prevent injuries caused by occupants being struck by unsecured cargo. They can also help prevent collapse of the roof in the event of a vehicle rollover. Vehicles are equipped with a variety of lights and reflectors to mark their presence, position, width, length and direction of travel as well as to convey the driver's intent and actions to other drivers. These include the vehicle's headlamps, front and rear position lamps, side marker lights and reflectors, turn signals, brake lamps, and reversing lamps. School buses and semi-trailer trucks in North America are required to bear retro reflective strips outlining their side and rear perimeters for greater visibility at night. Some studies indicate that color may be a factor in determining safety. Lighter color cars seem to be involved in fewer accidents than darker colors. Vehicle Condition Any defect which may affect the safe operation of the vehicle should be corrected as soon as possible. If the engine coolant, engine oil, battery water, tire pressure and condition, and vehicle lamps have not been checked in the previous week, you should check them or have them checked at an automotive repair center. You may check your vehicle on a pre-trip inspection and find that it needs some minor repair. If you change the oil or battery, check with your local regulations regarding disposals of these items. It is not environmentally safe to just discard these items. There are many facilities located throughout the state that will take used batteries or motor oil. There are also several agencies that will take your old car for donation and you may receive a tax credit. Do not simply abandon your vehicle if it stops running. Your old car could still benefit someone else..