Good driving the best safety aid

MODERN cars are worlds apart from the original motorcar which appeared about a century ago. Since then, a whole raft of safety systems have been introduced into our vehicles.

The most basic is the seatbelt, which has been very successful in reducing deaths. Modern seatbelts use a whole host of technology to prevent occupants coming into contact with other parts of a car interior.

Most new cars also have an array of airbags – again designed to keep a soft, vulnerable human being from coming into contact with hard, unforgiving objects.

It is now also a requirement for new vehicles sold in the EU to have ABS (anti-lock braking system), a function which allows a driver to steer out of trouble while emergency braking – not an aid to reduce the braking distance.

Other safety devices being fitted into a lot of new cars include traction control (TCS), which prevents wheel spin, and ESP (electronic stability control), which is fitted to correct a skid.

These are just a few of the safety features fitted in modern cars, but the list could go on and on.

The unfortunate thing about all these features is that they are not human-proof and are quite easily overcome by bad driving. Don’t rely on the airbag or seatbelt saving your life because, even with these systems, there are still fatalities.

Drive appropriately and you won’t need the systems, but if you make a mistake or something goes wrong, these systems are there to help.

Drive safely.