Buying a Safer Car 2004 DOT HS 809 546
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`Buying a Safer Car 2004
`Valuable Information on: Crash Tests, Rollover Ratings and Safety Features
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`Safety Features
`The following descriptions provide basic information on each feature and how it works. This information
`will help you understand sales literature and prepare you to ask questions of the dealer. Be aware that
`some manufacturers may use other design features that perform the same function as those described.
`Also be aware that manufacturers may use different trade names to describe a particular safety feature.
`
`Safety Belts
`In the event of a crash, safety belts are designed to keep you inside the vehicle. They also reduce the
`risk that you will collide with the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield. We recommend that new
`buyers sit in a vehicle, put on the safety belts, and check the fit. Even with safety belt extenders that
`increase the length of the safety belt, some belts may not fit properly. If this is the case, you should find
`a vehicle with safety belts that do fit properly. The availability of belt extenders is not included in the
`ratings section of this brochure. Please check the Safety Features chart for an individual vehicle at www.
`safercar.gov for the availability of extenders.
`Safety belt designs have additional features that improve safety belt performance:
`
`Adjustable Upper Belts. An adjustable upper belt anchorage lets you change the position of the
`shoulder strap to accommodate a person’s size and increase safety belt comfort.
`Adjustable Upper Belts can be available for both the front and rear outboard seating positions.
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`Safety Belt Pretensioner. In a crash, pretensioners retract the safety belt almost instantly to remove
`excess slack. The removal of excess slack by the pretensioner has been shown to lower the chance of
`injury to the head and chest in crash tests. However, you still need to adjust your safety belt as snugly
`as possible, since pretensioners are not powerful enough to pull you back into your seat. Like air bags,
`pretensioners are “one use” devices and need to be replaced after a crash.
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`Energy Management Features. Energy management features allow safety belts to “give” during a
`severe crash to prevent the shoulder belt from concentrating too much force on your chest. These
`features include “load limiters” built into the shoulder belt retractor and/or “tear stitching” in the webbing
`that causes the safety belt to extend gradually and lessen the force on the chest. The use of load
`limiters has been shown to lower the chance of chest injury in crash tests.
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`Integrated Safety-belt Systems. These systems mount the entire safety belt system directly to the
`seat, rather than to the floor or pillar. This allows the safety belt to move with you when you move the
`seat. Integrated systems can provide a more comfortable fit and are intended to more effectively hold
`you in your seat during a crash. Charts indicate which front outboard seats have this system.
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`Rear Center Seat Lap/Shoulder Belts. Although manufacturers are only required to have a lap belt in
`the rear center position, some provide a lap/shoulder belt. This added feature is beneficial to all
`occupants, especially children in forward facing child safety seats and booster seats who are often
`seated in the rear center position.
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`Safety Belt Use Indicators. The purpose of a safety belt use indicator is to remind vehicle occupants to
`wear their safety belts. It appears as a dashboard warning light (often designed as a person in a safety
`IPR 2016-01790
`American Vehicular Sciences
`Exhibit 2021
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`Buying a Safer Car 2004 DOT HS 809 546
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`belt) and makes a buzzing or bell-like sound for a few seconds.
`Some manufacturers have voluntarily installed innovative buckle up reminder systems that go beyond
`the federal standard and provide additional warnings when occupants are not using safety belts. Talk
`with the dealer or review the owner’s manual to learn if your vehicle has one of these innovative
`systems.
`
`Frontal Air Bags
`Depending on the severity of the crash, frontal air bags inflate to prevent occupants from hitting the
`steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield. Frontal air bags for both drivers and passengers have been
`standard equipment in all vehicles since 1998.
`Frontal air bags do not eliminate the need for safety belts and typically do not offer protection in
`rollovers, side-impact, or rear-end crashes. Air bag effectiveness depends upon the proper use of safety
`belts, which help keep you in place should a collision occur. Occupants who are unbelted or out-of-
`position can end up being seriously injured or killed if they are too close to the air bag when it deploys.
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`Advanced (Frontal) Air Bags Systems. Beginning with 2004 vehicles, advanced air bag systems are
`required in a portion of each manufacturer’s production. Charts indicate which vehicles are certified to
`the new Federal standard for advanced air bags.
`Advanced air bag systems are a next generation frontal air bag system designed to further reduce the
`likelihood of serious injury or death to occupants, both adult or child, who may be too close to the air bag
`when it deploys. Most advanced air bag systems use sensors that can automatically detect the severity
`of the crash, the occupant’s size, safety belt use, and/or seating position and deploy the appropriate
`level of power to the driver and passenger frontal air bags.
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`You will need to talk with the dealer or review the owner’s manual to learn about the specific features
`and sensor technologies in use as part of the advanced air bag system.
`Reduce the risk of injury from any frontal air bag by observing the following:
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`l Buckle your safety belt
`l Keep about 10 inches or more between your chest and the air bag cover
`l Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag, even a reduced-power or
`advanced air bag, unless the air bag on-off switch is in the OFF position
`l Place children 12 years and under in the back seat and make sure they are properly
`restrained, either in a safety belt or a child safety seat appropriate for their size, weight and
`age.
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`Warning!!! Even with advanced air bags, children can be killed or seriously injured by an air bag.
`Always put children age 12 and under in the rear seat.
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`On-off switches. An on-off switch can deactivate the driver or passenger air bag. Almost all vehicles
`without rear seats, or with small rear seats, such as pickups and sports cars, now include a passenger-
`side on-off switch as standard equipment. NHTSA’s Buying a Safer Car for Child Passengers brochure
`provides a list of these vehicles, as well as other important information you should consider when
`purchasing a vehicle if you transport children (click here to find out how to obtain a copy).
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`If you own a vehicle without an on-off switch and have a demonstrated need to have one installed by a
`dealer or repair facility, you may do so provided you meet one of the following conditions:
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`Buying a Safer Car 2004 DOT HS 809 546
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`l You must transport a child, age 12 or under, or an infant riding in rear-facing infant seat, in
`the front passenger seat.
`l You have a medical condition where the air bag poses a special risk that outweighs the
`risk of hitting your head, neck or chest in a crash if the air bag is turned off.
`l You cannot change your customary driving position and keep 10 inches between the
`center of the steering wheel and the center of your chest.
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`More details and an ON-OFF switch request form can be obtained at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/ airbags.
`Since on-off switches are not available for all vehicles, verify availability of a switch for the vehicle you
`want to purchase before you request authorization for switch installation.
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`Side-impact Air Bags (SABs)
`Side-impact air bag (SAB) technology has advanced rapidly over recent years and various types of
`SABs have emerged. SABs offer additional protection to two principal areas of the body - the head and
`the chest - during side-impact crashes. SABs can deploy from various locations or “mounts” within the
`compartment - the door, the seat or the roof rail. The footnotes in the charts reflect these mount
`locations - door mount (d), seat mount (z) and
`roof rail mount (r).
`
`A Technical Working Group (TWG) of experts representing the automotive and insurance industries has
`developed voluntary SAB testing procedures to minimize the potential risk of
`SAB-related injuries for out-of-position occupants.
`If a vehicle has an “M” in the column labeled “SAB Out-of-Position Tests,” it means the manufacturer
`has reported to the government that all SABs in the vehicle have successfully completed the full battery
`of tests specified under the voluntary guidelines.
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`Children 12 and under should always be properly restrained in the back seat, in an appropriate child
`safety seat. You should read the owner’s manual for specific information about how the side-impact air
`bag system in your vehicle works.
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`Rollover Air Bags
`With input from a separate rollover sensor, side-impact head “curtain” air bags can be designed to also
`deploy as rollover air bags in the event of a rollover. Rollover air bags stay inflated longer to help keep
`you inside the vehicle.
`
`Ejection is the most common source of injuries and fatalities in rollover crashes. Rollover air bags along
`with properly worn safety belts reduce the risk of injury and ejection. You will need to talk with your
`dealer to see if your vehicle’s side-impact head curtain air bags can also function as rollover air bags.
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`Head Restraints
`Head restraints limit the rearward movement of the head during a rear-impact crash, reducing the
`probability of neck injury commonly referred to as whiplash. Head restraints meeting specific size and
`strength requirements are required at front outboard seats, but not in rear seats.
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`Some head restraints are fixed in position and cannot be adjusted by the occupant. Most head restraints
`are adjustable up and down (vertically) and, in some instances, forward and backward (horizontally).
`Most often these adjustments must be done manually, but in some vehicles adjustments may occur
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`Buying a Safer Car 2004 DOT HS 809 546
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`automatically with changes in seat position. To be effective, the top of the head restraint should be
`between the top of your ears and the top of your head. Horizontal placement should be as close to your
`head as possible, without pushing your head forward or causing the height of the head restraint to drop.
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`The newest type of head restraint type is an active head restraint. There are a variety of active head
`restraint designs. In general, during a rear-end crash, active head restraints automatically close the gap
`between the occupant’s head and the head restraint and in some instances increase their height relative
`to the occupant’s head. Preliminary research has shown active head restraints have shown promise in
`reducing whiplash. Active head restraints can still be adjusted manually.
`
`Charts indicate which vehicles have active head restraints, as well as which vehicles have rear seat
`head restraints. Rear seat head restraints that meet the same size and strength requirements as front
`seat head restraints are annotated with an “f”.
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`Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS)
`Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) helps prevent a vehicle’s wheels from sliding during “panic” braking,
`which allows the driver to maintain greater steering control as the vehicle is quickly slowed - a key factor
`in avoiding a collision. However, ABS does not guarantee your ability to avoid a crash. Furthermore, you
`still may lose control when driving at excessive speeds or during extreme steering maneuvers. Learning
`to use anti-lock brake systems correctly will provide you with the greatest benefit from the system.
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`All passenger cars equipped with ABS have four-wheel ABS. Sport utility vehicles, trucks, and vans
`equipped with ABS can have either four-wheel or two-wheel ABS. Four-wheel ABS monitors and
`controls all the wheels of the vehicle, while two-wheel ABS only monitors and controls the rear wheels of
`a vehicle. In vehicles with two-wheel ABS, the front wheels can still lock during hard or panic braking
`and this lockup can result in the loss of steering control. Because the full benefits of ABS are not
`available to the driver with a two-wheel ABS, only vehicles with four-wheel ABS are indicated in the
`charts.
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`Some four-wheel ABS systems also include Brake Assist, which is only available with ABS systems.
`During emergency braking, this feature boosts the vehicle’s braking power by detecting the speed or
`force at which the driver is pressing the brake pedal. Under certain conditions, Brake Assist can
`potentially reduce overall stopping distance by activating the braking system more quickly. In the safety
`features charts, a “b” indicates ABS systems with Brake Assist.
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`Traction Control
`Traction control systems are designed to help prevent a vehicle from slipping and sliding during
`acceleration. They improve vehicle stability by controlling the amount the drive wheels can slip when
`you apply extra power. The system automatically adjusts the engine power output and, in some
`systems, applies braking force to selected wheels during acceleration. Traction control is mainly found
`on vehicles with four-wheel, anti-lock brake systems.
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`All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
`All-wheel drive distributes power to both front and rear wheels to maximize traction. Unless combined
`with traction control, all-wheel drive systems do not prevent the drive wheels from slipping when you
`apply extra power during acceleration.
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`Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
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`Buying a Safer Car 2004 DOT HS 809 546
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`Electronic Stability Control (ESC), offered under various trade names, is designed to assist drivers in
`maintaining control of their vehicles during extreme steering maneuvers. Its intent is to reduce the
`occurrence of crashes in which vehicles run off the road or otherwise go out of control. ESC senses
`when a vehicle is starting to spin out (oversteer) or plow out (understeer). When this occurs, it turns the
`vehicle to the appropriate heading by automatically applying the brake to one or more of the wheels.
`However, ESC cannot keep a vehicle on the road if the vehicle’s speed is simply too great for conditions.
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`Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
`Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) use a dashboard warning light to alert the driver when a tire
`is significantly under inflated. Under inflation is one of the leading causes of tire failure. At this time,
`these systems are optional. However, NHTSA is currently producing a rule that will make them
`mandatory on future model year vehicles.
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`Automatic-Dimming Rearview Mirrors
`Conventional interior rearview mirrors have a manual day/night lever that drivers switch to reduce glare
`from rear-approaching vehicles. Automatic-dimming rearview mirrors automatically darken to reduce
`headlight glare. They may dim gradually or quickly as the glare gets brighter. In some vehicles with this
`feature, the outside mirrors automatically dim along with the inside mirror.
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`Daytime Running Lights
`This feature turns on the headlights when a vehicle is being driven. Daytime running lights increase the
`ability of oncoming drivers to see your vehicle. Since the feature may not include tail lights or other
`exterior lights, remember to turn your headlights on at dusk.
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`Automatic Crash Notification
`Automatic Crash Notification systems are designed to send a notification signal via a wireless telephone
`for emergency assistance. The signal can be activated automatically (in the event of a crash) or
`manually ( for other types of assistance, such as a flat tire). The system also identifies your location so
`that emergency rescue personnel do not have to waste precious time searching for you.
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`If your air bags or safety belt pretensioners deploy in a crash, the system will automatically connect you
`to emergency assistance and you will be asked about your specific needs. If you do not respond,
`emergency rescue personnel will be sent to your location. By pressing a button you can call for other
`types of roadside assistance - a flat tire, vehicle breakdown, no fuel. If your car is reported stolen, the
`system can assist the police in attempting to track your vehicle.
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`Back to Table of Contents
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`Continue to For More Information
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