The best car safety featuresCar safety features explained

When you’re shopping for a new or used car, remember that there are two main types of safety features to look out for – those that help you avoid a crash in the first place (items one to three on our list) and those that help keep you safe once a crash becomes inevitable (items four to 12). Here’s what they do and why you need them.

ESC will help you keep control of your car in a skid

1. Stability control

This electronic system can stop drivers from losing control of their car in sudden manoeuvres or skids, and independent studies have shown it could prevent up to a third of all road accidents. It’s commonly known as ESP, but other acronyms used by manufacturers include: ASC, DSC, DTSC, ESC, ESP+, VDC, VSA and VSC.

2. Electronic brake-force distribution (EBD)

This enhancement of anti-lock brakes (ABS) reduces brake force if grip differs at each wheel, helping to bring the car to a halt predictably and in a straight line.

3. Lane-keeping technology

Citroën’s Lane Departure Warning System vibrates the base of the driver’s seat when the car strays across motorway lanes without indicating. More advanced systems (like Honda’s Lane Keep Assist System on the Accord and Legend) automatically make steering adjustments to keep you in the centre of the lane.

4. A stable body shell

A stable car body shell resists crash forces well and provides better protection for those in the cabin. Look for cars with a good Euro NCAP crash-test score.

Curtain airbags are a great safety feature

5. Smart seatbelt reminder

As a nation we’re pretty good at buckling up, but not using seatbelts is still a major factor in road traffic injury statistics. The best systems (such as in the Volvo S40) don’t just remind the driver to buckle up, they sense which seats are occupied and alert the driver if any other belts haven’t been fastened.

6. Pre-tensioned and load-limited seatbelts

Seatbelt pre-tensioners take up any slack in the belt when they detect a crash is imminent. Load limiters, on the other hand, prevent injury by allowing the belt to stretch slightly in a crash if too high a load is placed on the seat’s occupant.

7. Dual-stage airbags

These inflate less rapidly in lower severity impacts, reducing the chance of airbag-related injuries.

Whiplash can be prevented with well-positioned headrests

8. Good head restraints

Poorly-adjusted head restraints account for many whiplash injuries. Make sure that a car’s head restraints can be raised high enough to suit drivers and passengers of all heights – the top of the head restraint should sit level with the top of a person’s head for it to be effective. Also, check to make sure the car has a good Thatcham whiplash rating.

9. Seat-mounted side airbags

These help protect the pelvis, chest and abdomen in a side-on crash. Seat-mounted side airbags are preferable to door-mounted airbags as they stay in the correct position when the seat is moved.

10. Side curtain airbags

These usually drop down from the roof lining above the windows to protect the heads of front and rear passengers in the event of a side-on crash.

11. Isofix child seat mounts

Isofix is a system for fitting child seats that uses mounting points built into the car seats, rather than the adult seat belt. Three-point Isofix systems are best, as they have a ‘top tether’ as well as two lower anchorages. As long as you follow the instructions, Isofix should make fitting a child seat easier, too.

12. Pedestrian protection

Cars with a more ‘pedestrian friendly’ front end should reduce the severity of injury if you’re unfortunate enough to hit a pedestrian – particularly at speeds of up to 30mph. Look for cars with a high Euro NCAP pedestrian safety score.

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