Active safety features

Also known as electronic stability programs (ESP), ESC builds upon features such as anti-lock braking and traction control to stabilise the vehicle when it changes direction. 

ESC uses a number of sensors which immediately identify when a car has deviated from the direction the driver intended and has lost control. ESC stabilises the vehicle by selectively braking individual wheels and reducing engine torque to bring the vehicle back on course, preventing oversteering or understeering. 

AEB systems use sensors to detect a potential collision in the vehicle’s path and automatically apply the brakes to avoid a crash or reduce the severity. AEB will only activate in an emergency and may not always be able to avoid a collision, therefore it is important that you always pay attention and drive to the conditions.

There are different types of AEB. Some work at low speeds, some at higher speeds and some systems are also designed to detect pedestrians and cyclists. When buying a car, you should ask about the specific operating conditions. 

Most drivers are familiar with cruise control, but many cars are now fitted with a version of cruise control that can maintain a safe following distance from the car in front. 

ACC allows the driver to set the required speed in the same way as traditional cruise control, but the driver can also select their preferred following distance. The ACC will then use sensors to detect vehicles in the lane ahead and automatically slow down or speed up as the front vehicle moves, but will not exceed the set speed.

The driver is still responsible for controlling the vehicle (staying in the lane or changing lanes) and being prepared for sudden braking. ACC is designed to assist the driver, not replace them. 

BSM systems monitor the driver’s ‘blind spot’ in adjacent lanes and warns the driver if a vehicle is present, either through a visual or audible alarm. The visual warning may appear on the dashboard or in the side mirror.

The warning alerts the driver that it is unsafe to change lanes, but does not replace the need to perform head checks when doing so.

FCW systems use radar or a camera to determine the distance to the vehicle travelling in front, and warn drivers if they are too close at the current speed. This warning will be visual and/or audible and appear on the car dashboard. 

It is designed to prevent rear-end crashes by ensuring drivers keep a safe following distance.

LKA systems use cameras to recognise lane markings and react if the vehicle is leaving the lane unintentionally.

When a vehicle is detected leaving a lane without the driver first activating the indicator, LKA systems will gently steer the vehicle back into the lane.

Some vehicles will have the option of lane centering technology which keeps the vehicle in the centre of its lane to provide a smoother driving experience. 

It is important to remember that lane keep assist and lane centering technologies rely on clear lane marking to operate best and cannot prevent the car from leaving its lane under all situations (higher speeds, sharp bends). It is important to always pay attention and drive to the conditions. 

RCA systems include various technologies designed to prevent collisions when reversing. Features such as reversing cameras and sensors, rear cross traffic alert and reverse AEB all contribute to preventing reversing collisions.

Reversing cameras and sensors have been fitted to vehicles for a number of years now. Today, the safest vehicles also include rear cross traffic alert and reverse AEB. 

Rear cross traffic alerts warn drivers of vehicles and sometimes pedestrians or cyclists that are approaching the reversing path. Some vehicles also have reverse AEB, which will automatically apply the brake if a collision is imminent. 

Speed assist systems, such as Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), help drivers keep to the speed limit, protecting themselves and others.

ISA works in different ways depending on the make and model of vehicle. Some rely on built-in maps, while others have cameras capable of reading speed signs on the side of the road. 

In all cases ISA alerts the driver when they exceed the current speed limit. More advanced systems will also reduce the vehicle’s speed if the driver is going above the limit.

Drivers should not rely solely on speed assist systems to determine the speed limit. Maps can be out of date and traffic sign recognition may not always be accurate or able to read the speed sign for various reasons, such as vegetation or other obstacles that block signage. Drivers should always check the posted speed limit on the length of road by looking at the speed sign.