Since the invention of the first motor vehicle, better designs and new technologies have influenced the safety, comfort and efficiency of personal travel. From car horns (1908) and rear view mirrors (1911) to windscreen washers (1933) and seat belts (1967), hundreds of innovations have significantly changed the safety of driving.

The introduction of new technologies depends on the manufacturers’ assessments of the market. However, governments can intervene to ensure the timely introduction of safety features to vehicles manufactured in, or imported to, Australia.

The design of safe vehicles is addressed through the national Australian Design Rules (ADR), developed in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Standards Act 1989. New features are also developed and incorporated in new cars to make them more appealing to the market.

The State Government has established a facility incorporating the Road Accident Research Unit, which began at the University of Adelaide in 1973.  The Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) adds value to the State’s car industry by conducting collaborative world-leading research in all areas of automotive road safety.

Most innovations in vehicle design come from Europe and America and vehicles sold in Australia significantly lag in the application of safety features. There are also significant differences between road systems and motoring in Australia compared with overseas, for instance our long distances between towns, and urban drivers exposed to outback driving conditions. There is, therefore, a need to investigate and understand our own road safety issues.

Australian Road Rules for new safety technologies

Under the Australian Road Rules, the correct use of seatbelts and child restraints is compulsory in all States and Territories.

Seat belts and child restraints work with other vehicle improvements, such as airbags and car crumple zones, to absorb the impact of a crash. Researchers are currently working on new technologies for safer road users - seat belt reminder systems and driver headbands, for example. However, none of these replace the use and value of seatbelts.

The installation of airbags in vehicles is recommended but is not compulsory, although they are standard in most new vehicles.  Likewise, use of driver headbands, seatbelt reminder systems and other new technologies depends on the decision of the driver and are not, at this stage, compulsory.

New safety technologies

Airbags

SRS airbags are a Supplementary Restraint System and work in conjunction with the seat belt. They provide a barrier that can reduce the severity of head injuries sustained in a crash.

• The driver airbag is located in the hub of the steering wheel.
• The front passenger airbag is usually located in the dashboard above the glove compartment.
• Side airbags in the door panel or seat and curtain side airbags are located above the side doors.

These types or airbags are now standard in many new vehicles

Airbags operate:

• during impact, sensors in the vehicle detect sudden deceleration
• a strong enough impact will induce a flow of electricity to the inflator which lights the gas generator
• the airbag fills in a few milliseconds – faster than the eye can blink – into the space between the occupant and steering wheel, dashboard or doors
• the bag then deflates quickly by allowing the filler gas to escape through vent holes or through the weave of the fabric. The energy of the occupant is absorbed while this occurs.

Many airbags are now dual stage, i.e. the airbag can inflate to two or more levels, depending on the impact speed and the distance the seat is from the steering wheel.

If your car has an airbag:

• read the owner’s manual to understand the operation of the vehicle’s airbag system
• if the steering wheel can be tilted, position it so that the airbag will deploy towards the chest, not the head.

Alcohol Ignition Interlock

The South Australian Alcohol Interlock Scheme is a legislated Scheme that allows drivers disqualified for a relevant drink driving offence to apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for an Alcohol Interlock licence at any time after the half way point of their disqualification. The Scheme provides registered participants with a small breath testing device which is fitted to the vehicle. It measures breath alcohol level when blown into, allowing you to drive legally but preventing you from driving after drinking.

Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)

An anti-lock braking system prevents your vehicle’s brakes from locking up and putting the vehicle into an uncontrolled skid. It is activated when the brakes are applied with force. The car’s computer system is engaged to release the total braking effort and bring the vehicle to a safe stop through a series of braking pulsations. This system is particularly useful in loose or slippery conditions, as the vehicle can remain in control and be steered around objects by the driver. Current systems monitor brake lock up on each individual wheel and ABS can effectively alter each individual brake to allow for full control while under heavy braking in poor road conditions.

Car crumple zones

Car crumple zones are areas  around the main occupant area of the vehicle that are designed to collapse on impact, which reduces the force transmitted to the people inside.

Daytime Running Lights

Daytime running lights are when the vehicles lights (headlights, tail lights and parking lights) turn on once the ignition is activated. Daytime running lights are intended to make the vehicle more visible.

The cost of including this feature to the ignition once activated is approximately $140 per vehicle. If your vehicle is not equipped to make the lights turn on once the ignition is activated it is good practice to turn them on manually.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Electronic Stability Program (ESP)

ESC helps you remain in control or your vehicle when you skid, swerve suddenly or when road conditions change. ESC considerably reduces the risk of single vehicle crashes by:

• correcting impending oversteer or understeer
• stabilising the vehicle during sudden evasive manoeuvres, e.g. swerving
• improving handling on gravel and unmade roads
• improving traction on slippery or icy roads.

Using a number of sensors ESC immediately identifies when a car has deviated from the drivers steered direction and the driver has lost control of the vehicle. As soon as impeding instability, oversteering and understeering are registered, ESC stabilises the vehicle by selectively braking individual wheels and reducing engine torque to bring the vehicle back on course. In some current vehicles advanced ESC systems measure wheel slip, vehicle stability and road conditions over 23 times per second, to enable early action of avoiding an incident.

ESC can not control all out of control vehicles as it works on the basics of physics. ESC can only control the vehicle where it is physically possible.

Electronic Stability Control builds upon features such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and traction control to stabilise the vehicle when it changes direction from that intended by the driver. It differs from ABS and traction control in that it acts independently of the driver.

Loss of control crashes are a major contributor to the South Australian road toll. Nearly half of all fatal road crashes in South Australia each year occur as a result of drivers loosing control of their vehicle. It is estimated that if ESC was fitted to every vehicle in South Australia, more than 30 lives could be saved and 270 serious injuries avoided annually.

Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA)

Intelligent speed adaptation is simply the vehicle knows the speed limit. ISA systems use GPS satellites and a digital map of speed zones. ISA systems warn drivers or directly prevent vehicles from speeding.

There are 3 types of ISA systems
Advisory	This system informs the driver of the current speed limit or that they are exceeding the speed limit via visual or auditory feedback.
Supportive	This system provides feedback to the driver that they are exceeding the speed limit, through devices such as the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress when you exceed the speed limit. This system can be overridden by the driver,
Limiting	This system uses fuel control and/or the direct application of the brakes to limit the maximum speed of vehicles.

ISA provides road safety and environmental benefits, such as:

• reduced vehicle speeds
• reduced speed variation between vehicles
• potential to mandate or monitor repeat speeding offenders
• reduced road crashes
• reduced road fatalities
• reduced crash severity
• fuel savings
• lower vehicle emissions.

Seatbelt ignition interlocks

A seatbelt warning and ignition interlock system consists of a seat occupant detector, a seatbelt position sensor and a seatbelt occupant monitoring circuit. If any seatbelt has not been fastened or is fastened on an unoccupied seat, an alarm sounds and the vehicle ignition will not operate. All occupants of the vehicle must be correctly seated and have their seatbelts or restraints fastened before the car will start.

Seatbelt reminder systems

Manufacturers are introducing devices to remind vehicle occupants to fasten their seatbelts. These devices usually involve a flashing light or audible warning or a combination of both.

Compared with their potential benefits, seatbelt reminder systems are relatively inexpensive to install. Australian research indicates that the costs range from $100 - $150 per vehicle.

The future

The National Road Safety Strategy sees long term benefits in new technologies such as interactive speed controls and interlocks which prevent a vehicle being driven unless certain conditions are met. Intelligent Transport System (ITS) technologies already available can address the three major causes of road fatalities and injuries:

• drink driving - alcohol ignition interlocks
• speeding - intelligent speed adaptation
• non-use of restraints - seatbelt ignition interlocks.

Expanded use of alcohol interlocks for convicted drink-drivers will be considered in the light of experience in other jurisdictions. Systems to prevent rear end crashes will also be considered for early introduction.

Possible future developments could include fitting Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) to vehicles used in remote areas to reduce trauma response times. There is currently an active roadside assist system (similar to the Holden package which calls 000 with GPS vehicle locations when the vehicles airbags/crash sensors have been deployed.

Fatigue management systems are currently available to scan the drivers face and emit an alarm to warn them. Trials are taking place mainly within the heavy freight and mining industries, however this technology can be adapted to light vehicles.

Links

Department of Infrastrucutre, Transport, Regional Development and Local Governement - Vehicle Safety

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC)