Active is the best defense: cars that help you avoid a crash

IIHS tests Subaru’s Eyesight collision avoidance system

When we think of automotive safety features, the easiest to visualize is the airbag. There it is in countless movies and TV shows, often erroneously shown deploying late or early, for dramatic or comedic effect. Airbags are an essential component of a car’s safety systems, preventing your body from coming into contact with the car’s interior bits. The other most important bit of safety kit is the seatbelt. These are called ‘passive’ systems, as they mitigate injury in case of an accident.

Yet the best safety features are the ones that help you avoid a collision in the first place: the ‘active’ safety systems. The most important active safety feature is of course the car’s brakes, followed by the steering system. Stopping the car effectively and piloting the car around a potential hazard are the essence of avoiding an accident. These basic safety features have been enhanced in recent years by electronics. In the case of brakes, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps the driver maintain steering control even when applying full brake force. ABS prevents the wheels from locking up, as when a driver mashes on the brake pedal. Locked wheels can no longer be steered. Lately, cars are being equipped with traction control, which helps prevent slipping when accelerating; stability control, which helps keep the car pointing in the intended direction; and collision warning, which alerts the driver or can even slow or stop the car before it hits an object or pedestrian.

Recognizing that car electronics are playing a big role in accident avoidance, the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has begun including them in its ratings. This agency bills itself as an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from car crashes.

The IIHS published the results of its testing for forward-collision avoidance systems in 74 vehicles, all moderately priced and luxury midsize SUVs, all 2013-14 models. To qualify for points, the vehicle must have a forward collision warning system that meets government agency National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards (1 point), and an autobrake system that can slow or completely stop the vehicle before it collides with a stationary object in front (up to 5 points). IIHS tests the effectively of the various systems to slow or bring the car to a complete stop, using a barrier designed to simulate a stopped vehicle. Tests are done at 19 and 40 kph. Models with one point earn a ‘basic’ rating; 2 to 4 points earns an ‘advanced’ rating; and 5 to 6 points qualities for a ‘superior’ rating.

Out of the 74 vehicles tested, seven earned the highest ‘superior’ rating when equipped with optional autobrake and collision warning. They are the Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback wagon, scoring highest with 6 points; the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, Volvo S60 sedan and XC60 SUV, and Cadillac ATS sedan and SRX SUV, all scoring 5 points. The highest scoring cars’ autobrake systems substantially reduce speed at both the 19 and 40 kph tests, and most prevented a collision at the 19 kph test.

Subaru’s Eyesight technology performed best, helping the Legacy and Outback avoiding a collision at both speeds. Eyesight technology is based on a pair of cameras mounted near the rear-view mirror. The stereo cameras detect stationary objects and can slow or stop the car by activating the brakes. The camera technology is different from the radar or laser-based ranging employed by other companies, such as Mercedes-Benz. Bloomberg reports that the technology has helped the company generate sales in Japan, particularly among the more elderly customers.

Such technology can cost thousands of dollars. Eyesight is bundled in a package that in the US costs upwards of $4000. The system is not yet offered in the Philippines. Vehicles locally sold that have such active-safety systems are the Volvo S60 and XC60, and the Ford Focus. The technology may cost a little extra, but even inexpensive vehicles like the Focus are being equipped with it. When it comes to that split-second that driver inattention or error, or an unavoidable circumstance leads to an imminent collision, these advanced safety systems will prove their worth.