As the reforms of the Highway Code progress, certain safety devices have become mandatory, while others have imposed themselves as their effectiveness is recognized. Proof of this is the number of deaths on the roads after a collision has continued to decrease since safety equipment has been installed in cars. From seat belts to airbags and even child seating devices, the safety equipment that protects users is numerous. Moreover, the latest road safety report confirms that their synergy is no longer to be proven and that these elements contribute directly to the safety of drivers and passengers in the event of a road accident.
What equipment ensures the safety of the driver and passengers of a car ?
If during the 1980s, seat belts were not compulsory in the back of a vehicle, the explosion in the number of passengers, the majority of them children, who were killed on the roads during this period while they were installed in the back seat prompted the authorities to react. The other consequence of this sharp increase in infant mortality results in the obligation to install a suitable seating device for the youngest passengers. In recent years, the combination of airbags and seat belts has saved thousands of users who are victims of a collision. This safety device, which was initially optional, is now standard on most cars registered in France.
One video to explain it:
Seat belts: Once fastened, the mission of the seat belt is to keep the user in his seat so that he is not thrown into the passenger compartment after a collision with another user or an obstacle. Indeed, few drivers’ license holders are aware of this, but failure to wear this safety device has the effect of transforming passengers into projectiles. Thus, the movement of their body is extremely dangerous for other road users who would collide head-on with the driver.
The different types of airbags
Even when activated in an automobile, the front and side airbags only intervene in the event of a collision. The rest of the time, the security bags are folded in a dedicated compartment. These safety devices have a dual mission: to cushion shocks and protect the bodies of users traveling in a vehicle in the event of a road accident. In all cases, the deployment of the airbag requires a maximum of 150 milliseconds and takes place in several orderly phases.
Seating devices for children: Depending on their age and weight, the morphology of children is not necessarily suited to the ergonomics of the seats reserved for passengers. Also, to ensure that they are maintained, it is the driver’s responsibility to have suitable seating devices. To overcome this need, everyone can choose from 5 categories of child seats. These safety devices must be approved while respecting CE standards in order to be installed without risk.
