Safety Features

• Seatbelts:

  • without these, when braking hard you will keep moving and not decelerate, causing to fly through the windshield
  • these strap you in, but also stretch under large forces
  • stretching increases the distance moved slightly, but extends the time taken more for passengers to stop
  • this decreases the rate of change of momentum and therefore reduces the force
• Crumple zones:

  • Without these, the car would be a solid metal block, which would immediately stop during a crash instead of "softening" the blow slightly
  • "softer" areas at the front of the car, which crumple upon a crash
  • It absorbs energy to deform and compact
  • It increases the time taken for the car to stop
  • This reduces acceleration and force on passengers
• Air Bags:

  • Without these your head will whip forward during a crash, hitting the steering wheel or whipping back to hit the back of the head, which would cause serious neck energy
  • These inflate instantaneously upon a crash
  • Your head hits this and slows down
  • Increases the time taken for the head to stop moving

  • So reduces the force on the neck