Over the years, the industrial design of cars has involved the addition of safety systems designed to provide an even higher level of protection for users and other road users. Some of these solutions, in line with regulations adopted by the European Commission, are becoming required equipment for new cars in order for them to receive the appropriate type-approval for sale in the European Union. Which modern car safety systems are worth paying particular attention to?
One significant cause of road accidents and collisions is driver distraction. The large number of stimuli reaching the driver makes it difficult to concentrate, and often all it takes is a moment’s inattention for a tragic event to occur. The ADDW system, a system that constantly monitors the driver’s attention, is designed to remedy this problem. How does it work?
The ADDW system uses technology based on infrared and cameras aimed at the driver’s eyes to verify that he or she is focused on the road under certain conditions. As a standard, it is supposed to activate when the vehicle exceeds a speed of 20 km/h, but the car manufacturer can also adopt a lower threshold for the initiation of this solution. If the set speed is exceeded, the ADDW system will initiate calibration and then monitor the driver’s vision for three areas of the visual field. These include:
The ADDW system is particularly sensitive to the driver looking at the passenger’s lap and foot area – this is because it is usually a signal that the driver is using a mobile phone while driving.
The ADDW system’s task is not only to monitor the driver’s attention, but also to react when a loss of concentration is recognised. A warning signal in the form of an audible, visual or vibration will start to be emitted and increase in intensity if:
The alarm signal will automatically switch off once the driver’s gaze is directed to the correct area. It is also worth adding that:
Another important car safety system that falls under the umbrella of ADAS, or advanced driver assistance systems, is the intelligent speed assistant. The purpose of this system is to force the driver to comply with the speed limit adopted for a given stretch of road. What is the operating model of the intelligent speed assistant?
To carry out its tasks, the intelligent speed assistant uses information from either the traffic sign recognition system or the GPS system (or both). The ISA system can function in the car in one of two versions:
The use of ISA as a car safety system is justified by the fact that a large proportion of road collisions and accidents are due to cars not travelling at the speed limit.
Object detection systems for reversing are important solutions for the safety of the vehicle, the occupants and the environment. Their purpose is to prevent collisions with people and objects behind the vehicle. Parking sensors and reversing cameras have been used in vehicles for many years. However, this does not mean that there is a lack of innovation in this area. What are some other, even more modern safety features in the car to support the driver during the reversing manoeuvre?
A major support for the person driving the car in reverse is the system that monitors cross traffic when reversing. It provides a wider range of possibilities than a standard rear-view camera with parking sensors, enabling the identification of cars and pedestrians approaching the car from the left or right. This system is a valuable convenience in many everyday situations, such as when reversing out of a parking space onto the carriageway. It detects oncoming cars or approaching pedestrians and issues a warning signal, making it possible to avoid a collision.
One of the most innovative safety systems to support drivers when reversing a car is the reversing brake assistant. Its main purpose is to detect approaching objects before the driver can see them. The system is already activated when the driver engages reverse gear. Using information from rear-mounted sensors, the system informs the driver of the position of an object behind the car when a hazard is detected. If the driver ignores the received alert, the reversing brake assistant applies the brakes and stops the car to avoid a collision with the detected object.
The use of active cruise control increases both the driving comfort of the car in question and the associated safety level. It automatically adapts the car’s speed on an ongoing basis to changing road conditions and to settings set by the driver, such as the minimum distance to be maintained from other vehicles. ACC maintains a safe distance between the vehicle and other vehicles ahead. When they slow down, the cruise control makes the car brake, and when they accelerate, it increases the speed of the vehicle.
It is worth noting that ACCs for cars with manual gearboxes are only able to reduce the speed of the vehicle to a certain limit and require driver intervention. In contrast, the latest active cruise control systems fitted to new cars with automatic gearboxes make it possible, for example, to stop the vehicle in front of traffic lights and set it in motion at the appropriate moment.
According to EU regulations, from 7 July 2024, every vehicle manufactured in the EU must be fitted with a so-called in-car black box, or EDR system. Its task is to continuously record various parameters of the car’s operation, with the data it collects being continuously overwritten so that the device’s memory is sufficient to record the values of specific parameters, such as vehicle speed, driver reaction time or seatbelt status, among others, during an accident. The signal to start recording and saving data is the detection of a dangerous traffic event by the ACM system’s sensors.
The in-car black box records and saves data on events that occurred up to five seconds before, during and up to 250 milliseconds after an accident. The information it collects can be useful for, among other things:
It should be noted that the data recorded by in-vehicle black boxes is anonymous and can only be used in legally justified cases, with the consent of the vehicle owner.
In addition to the state-of-the-art car safety systems outlined earlier, there are many other solutions to enhance the protection of car occupants and other road users, among them:
Modern car safety systems are one of the top priorities for designers working on behalf of automotive companies. Ongoing work is being done both to improve long-established solutions, such as ABS and ESP, and to develop new safety systems, such as lane assist, AEB and reversing detection systems. Initiatives in this area result both from autonomous decisions by manufacturers, who are keen to increase the attractiveness of their vehicles, and from the introduction of legal regulations, obliging car corporations to implement specific solutions in their products to improve their safety.
Designing a car for safety is a complex field that requires the professionals involved to have extensive experience and a high level of competence in many areas. A comprehensive approach to technological design also proves to be essential, which is the key to developing reliable, effective solutions. At Endego, we offer professional support from qualified engineers and designers who have many years of experience in leading and implementing technology projects for companies in the automotive sector.
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