Safety first |
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BMW The all-new BMW 3-Series will be launched in the UK in the spring and, for the first time in the premium upper-medium sector, will feature an active steering system designed to stabilise the car more precisely and quickly than the driver is able to do manually.Previously only available on BMW 5 and 6 Series models, active steering will be an option on six cylinder 3 Series models and resolves the conflict between low-speed agility and higher-speed stability. And, in conjunction with the model’s DSC+ traction control system, if the car detects oversteer, active steering applies a small amount of positive steering angle to bring the rear of the car back into line.With six airbags as standard, including curtain airbags for front and rear occupants, the new 3 Series is expected to receive a top five-star crash protection rating from Euro NCAP. In addition, the new 3 Series will feature as standard, for the first time on the model BMW’s brake force display, which offers two stage brake lights that sees the area of brake illumination increase during an emergency stop, or when ABS cuts in to warn those travelling behind of the situation ahead.Also available for the first time on 3 Series models will be run-flat tyres which enable the 3 Series to be driven for 150 miles at 50 mph with up to four punctured tyres.
Citroën has brought a raft of cutting-edge safety technology into the upper-medium sector with its new C5, with most of the features available for the first time on cars costing from less than £15,000.In fact, the French marque claims the availability of a lane departure warning system designed to help prevent accidents caused by tiredness is a UK first for any car manufacturer. Also available on the C5 are dual function directional headlamps that help eliminate corner blackspots, a speed limiter designed to prevent the driver from breaking any speed limit, a low tyre pressure warning and front parking sensors, which complement the rear parking sensors and provide both audible and visual warnings via the speakers and central digital display. The lane departure warning system, as well as preventing drivers from falling asleep or losing attention when behind the wheel, may prompt better road manners by reminding drivers to indicate, says Citroën. The potentially life-saving system automatically warns the driver should it detect the car unintentionally drifting across lanes at high speed. Driver Gary Hart received a five-year jail sentence after he fell asleep at the wheel and his car careered off the motorway and into the path of a train at Selby, killing 10 people in 2001. Sleepiness is thought to cause around ten deaths per week on Britain’s roads and around a fifth of accidents on motorways and trunk roadsThe system uses six sensors under the bumper to detect when the car crosses road lines. Should the car inadvertently drift across these lines when travelling at speeds of over 50 mph, and without signalling, the sensors will trigger a vibrating mechanism in either the left or right side of the driver’s seat depending on the direction of drift. The technology can detect not only white markings, but the yellow, red or blue lines used in some European countries. It can also differentiate between continuous or broken lines as well as other road markings such as arrows or written lane information. If desired, it can be quickly deactivated via a button on the dashboard. The dual function directional headlamps provide a far safer field of vision in night driving conditions – a time when less than 20% of driving takes place, yet when almost 50% of all driving fatalities occur. The directional headlamps are controlled via a sensor on the steering column and operate in both dipped and main beam. As the C5 turns into a corner, the lamps follow the curvature of the road, pivoting by up to 15o and lighting up previously unseen road users and obstacles. A speed limiter, generally only available on more expensive cars, says Citroën, promotes safer driving while helping drivers to avoid exceeding speed limits and picking up penalty points. Operated via a stalk located on the steering column, the speed limiter allows drivers to set a maximum speed they do not want to exceed. In the event that the driver wishes to exceed the set speed, in an emergency for example, a kick down on the accelerator overrides the setting. The speed limiter is combined with the cruise control, which is set in the same way. Complementing the standard specification of seven airbags – which includes a new steering column airbag to protect the knees and shins of a driver in the event of an impact – ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA), is a new Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) that ensures grip in a variety of conditions and corrects any instability by adjusting engine or braking power, on one or more wheels, accordingly. The new generation ESP is also able to apply partial braking to keep the C5 hatchback and estate stable round corners, while a sophisticated “brake pad drying” feature improves braking response in wet conditions by effectively wiping the pads. Further enhancing passive safety levels, the C5 is equipped with sensors that alert the driver if any rear seatbelt is unfastened, illuminating a warning light on the dashboard. A sensor in the front passenger’s seat can also detect if the seat is occupied and alerts the driver if the seatbelt is not fitted. The rear central seatbelt is equipped with a device to prevent over-tightening, there are ISOFIX anchorage points on the outer rear seats, while the front passenger seat frame has been reinforced to limit the effects of submarining in the event of a collision. This winter, Citroën is also launching the all-new C4, the Xsara replacement, and while the majority of the safety features made their production debut on the C5, which entered showrooms this autumn, much of the technology also appears on the lower-medium sector contender.However, unique to the C4 – which will be available as a five-door hatchback and a three-door coupé – is a multi-functional fixed-centred controls steering wheel, which offers easy access to the centrally-mounted controls. In addition, its design will enhance safety by allowing the housing of a specially-designed airbag that offers greater protection to the driver.The C4 also features the lane departure warning system, directional Xenon headlamps, the speed limiter and low tyre pressure warning system.
Honda has developed a pop-up hood system for pedestrian safety, which raises the engine hood in the event of a collision with a pedestrian to reduce the possibility of a serious impact to the person’s head by providing added engine compartment clearance.The manufacturer has been acknowledged by the European New Car Assessment Programme as one of the leaders in promoting pedestrian safety through vehicle design. Four Honda models are among just nine models on sale in the UK that have achieved three-star ratings in Euro NCAP’s crash test programme (Roadsafe: summer 2004). The pop-up hood for pedestrian safety employs three sensors located inside the front bumper and a vehicle speed sensor to determine if an impact with a pedestrian has occurred, then signals an actuator to raise the rear portion of the engine hood approximately 10cm. This provides a space between the hood, the engine and other hard components to reduce pedestrian head injuries. Use of the pop-up hood for pedestrian safety can cause an approximate 40% reduction in head injuries, according to Honda’s internal research. This achieves a higher level of pedestrian safety performance even in models where design considerations make it difficult to provide ample clearance between the hood, the engine and other hard components.
The new system uses two “far infrared” cameras positioned in the lower section of the front bumper to detect pedestrians in or approaching the vehicle’s path and provides the driver with visual and audio cautions to help prevent accidents involving pedestrians. In addition to the conventional night vision function of giving the driver an enhanced view of the road ahead, the system is the world’s first to provide cautions that inform the driver of the presence of pedestrians who are on the road or about to cross the vehicle’s path. According to the Department for Transport, there are twice the number of pedestrian fatalities during the winter darkness months of November, December and January, than during the May, June, July summer period. Pedestrian fatalities make up more than one fifth of all traffic accident fatalities in Britain. Land Rover
Terrain Response uses a high-speed electrical architecture network to control the relevant vehicle features, systems and technologies, including: the engine management system by altering the throttle and thus improving driveability by suiting torque delivery to the chosen terrain; the electronic control system of the automatic gearbox, to optimise gear-change points; the air suspension ride height automatically adjusts to give maximum height in the “rock crawl” and “mud and ruts” programmes; dynamic stability control (DSC) is automatically adjusted as is electronic traction control, brakeforce distribution and ABS to offer optimum grip, braking power and safety on the chosen terrain; and hill descent control (HDC), which automatically restricts speed downhill, is automatically engaged on all programmes except “general driving”. Chief programme engineer Steve Haywood says: “We analysed the characteristics of nearly 50 different types of off-road surface and determined the vehicle system inputs necessary to optimise performance on each. We concluded that these can be distilled into just a handful of programmes – and those are the settings we offer on Terrain Response. It’s like having an expert alongside you, to help you get the best out of the vehicle, whatever the conditions, on-road or off.”Another innovation is Land Rover’s Integrated Body-frame, a new type of vehicle architecture that combines the torsional rigidity, car-like handling and refinement of a monocoque (or unitary) body with the strength and versatility of a traditional ladder-frame, as used on many sports utility vehicles. Enormously strong, the Integrated Body-frame architecture of the Discovery 3 is said to give tremendous protection in case of impacts, and door-mounted anti-intrusion side-beams offer further protection. Computer-aided design has helped optimise the Discovery 3’s intrinsic ability to protect passengers in severe impacts. Passenger safety is further improved by the use of up to eight airbags and the option of adaptive headlights that swivel with the direction of travel to illuminate the road ahead. Lexus
The technology can help prevent an accident happening and, should a collision become inevitable, provide optimum operation of brakes and seatbelts. Both systems make use of forward-facing millimetre wave radar, a technology that has also been deployed to improve the missile-firing capability of the latest Apache military attack helicopters. ACC enables the LS430 to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, using radar mounted in the front grille. The radar constantly monitors the gap, while steering angle sensors allow the system to distinguish between a moving vehicle ahead from one parked at the side of the road, or approaching in the opposite direction.The system control unit coordinates the throttle, transmission and, by means of the car’s vehicle stability control (VSC), the brakes to ensure a safe distance is maintained at all times. If it senses the LS430 is moving too quickly towards the vehicle in front, the VSC is prompted to apply braking. Likewise, as the gap widens, the throttle is increased smoothly up to the selected cruise control speed. The pre-crash system uses the same radar and a similar network of sensors to determine when a frontal collision is unavoidable. The relative distance between each vehicle and their respective speeds are constantly monitored. When a critical point is reached, the VSC and air suspension are adjusted to maximise braking performance. At the same time, the seatbelt motors retract the front seatbelts to ensure driver and passenger are held securely and benefit from their full protection potential. The ACC/PCS option costs £2,100. Saab
The 2004 result was achieved with standard safety features including adaptive, dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags engineered into the front seats, seatbelts featuring crash pretensioners and load limiters, and the Saab Active Head Restraint, which, in a rear-end collision, limits the head movement of the occupant during the impact, helping to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries. The Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon, 9-3 Convertible and 9-5 models have also each earned five stars, the highest rating possible, in Euro NCAP frontal and side-impact crash tests. Per Lenhoff, head of Saab’s crash safety development department, says: “The IIHS ‘Double Best Pick’ distinction is very rewarding for us. These truck-to-car tests have formed part of Saab’s own crash test matrix for many years, which is based on our experiences from our studies of real-life accidents.”Saab has developed an alcohol-sensing device that will encourage drivers to observe drink-driving laws. Last year, the number of people killed in drink-drive accidents in the UK rose to a seven-year high of 560. The Saab Alcokey includes a small mouthpiece in the car’s key fob. A transponder communicates with the car’s electronic control unit, immobilising the engine if a driver’s breath sample is found to contain alcohol above the permitted level. The device could be made available as an accessory through Saab dealers. It is currently under evaluation and development in response to increasing concern about drunk driving among at-work drivers. In production the device is expected to cost about £165. The government has proposed that drink-drivers could escape part of their ban if they agree to have an “alco-lock” fitted to their car. It is widely believed that a hardcore of drink-drivers are responsible for the majority of accidents. Toyota
The system is a £2,300 option exclusively on T Spirit models and is combined with a rear view monitor system and full-map DVD-based satellite navigation with electronic traffic avoidance. The revolutionary system monitors movement within a 20-yard vicinity of the car, thus buying drivers valuable seconds before deciding whether to make their move. The pictures are relayed to the dashboard display, allowing the driver to spot other approaching vehicles, motorbikes, cyclists and pedestrians as well as animals and low-lying obstacles. A Toyota spokesman says: “A collision after pulling out of a junction is very common. The technology has contributed to the reduction of accidents in Japan and we hope it is as successful in the UK.” Windscreen pillars obstructing a driver’s vision are a major factor in road accidents. Bike magazine recently claimed that almost 70% of motorcycle accidents involve a car, truck or bus, and that over 70% of these accidents were caused by “perception error” with bikes not being seen. The last official research in the UK into obstruction by windscreen pillars was carried out over 40 years ago in 1963. More recently, Department of Transport studies suggested that “look but failed to see” was a contributory factor in 20% of all road accidents. However the possibility of windscreen pillar obscuration was not considered.
Statistics from the US suggest that the number of children killed
in driveway accidents surged 57% in 2003. That data has prompted
demands for new measures aimed at urging vehicle manufacturers to
improve driver vision by reducing the number of blind spots in vehicles
and the offering of in-car cameras that can detect movement close
to a car that may not be obvious to the driver.The Corolla Verso
– which this year achieved the highest possible five-star
rating for passenger crash protection in Euro NCAP testing –
is fitted with a range of safety features that include a driver’s
knee airbag, which is one of nine airbags fitted as standard to
all models. Also standard is a two-stage seatbelt reminder that
activates a warning light and persistent buzzer if front seat passengers
fail to buckle-up within a set period of time.
TSP is said to significantly increase safety and could help prevent hundreds of accidents every year. When a dangerous yawing movement begins, the system’s electronics react immediately to stabilise both car and trailer.TSP is activated as soon as the trailer hitch connector is attached, and, in turn, the ESPPlus system then detects any yaw movement caused by the trailer – ESPPlus (standard on SRi and some Design variants) is a compulsory fit with TSP. This data is constantly processed and compared to the predetermined limits set in the system parameters. If a yawing movement begins and exceeds the pre-set limit, the car is slowed by throttle closure and brake application, until stability is restored. Should the yawing continue beyond three excessive movements, more intensive brake pressure is applied to steady the car and trailer. Over the two-year test period, tens of thousands of miles were covered, during which Vauxhall’s specialists tested the car-and-trailer combination handling performance with vastly differing trailer loads and speeds. The optional towing pack also incorporates hill start assist, deflation detection system, cruise control, a detachable tow bar and – on the estate only – automatic self-levelling rear suspension. Vauxhall says the towing pack significantly reduces the driver stress attributed to towing, as well as eliminating any anxiety attached to attempting hill starts with extra weight. Volkswagen Volkswagen has forged a new partnership with risk management provider DriveTech (UK) to enable companies to introduce best practice occupational road safety policies to their at-work driving operations. An estimated 1,000 people die and 100,000 employees are injured each year while they are on the road on company business and the raft of health and safety and duty of care legislation targeting rogue fleets is continuing to mount. This means time is running out and fleets that have failed to introduce best practice risk management measures are increasingly exposed to legal action if they are not actively pursuing measures to protect occupational drivers. As a result, Volkswagen Fleet Services has joined forces with DriveTech and is offering a free-of-charge initial consultation to all customers. New customers will be offered this on completion of their agreement with Volkswagen, while existing customers can take advantage of the service on contract renewal. DriveTech’s approach is based around the concept “The Journey”. The all-embracing concept transports fleet decision-makers and their drivers along a signposted A-Z risk management route embracing:
In addition, the company has developed integrated database systems
that enable fleets to access comprehensive records of driver audit
trails and cost analysis. DriveTech says that by embarking on The
Journey, businesses will meet legislation requirements and corporate
With WRG side windows, which are also offered with laminated glass for further protection and safety, water forms as tiny pearls of moisture that are blown away as the car increases speed, leaving the glass panel clearer and cleaner. The WRG treatment should last for five to six years and can then be recoated, as well as retro-fitted to any model. The WRG on the door mirrors uses a different method to disperse the water. Instead of forming droplets, the water spreads evenly across the entire glass surface to maintain a clearer view. In poor weather, this process will be speeded up when using heated door mirrors with WRG. As door mirrors are not exposed to the same wear and tear as the side windows, the WRG treatment will last the lifetime of the mirror and no re-treatment is necessary, says Volvo.Dean Shaw, Volvo Car UK product manager, says: “Whilst wipers keep front and rear windows free of rain, water repellent glass now makes a substantial improvement to the driver’s vision through side windows and door mirrors.” |
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