Did you know an estimated 243 million American drivers will be on the road in 2025?
The number of licensed drivers continues to soar yearly, but sadly, many accidents occur annually in the United States. The good news is that motor vehicle traffic fatalities dropped 3.2% in 2024.
Advancements in vehicular technology, including passive safety systems, have been designed to alert the driver of potential dangers on the road. These protective innovations can also reduce the impact of an accident or level of injury.
What Is a “Passive” Safety Feature?
Protecting passengers and pedestrians is more important than ever in the automotive industry. Safety systems categorized as “passive” means these automobile features remain inactive until needed. If an accident does occur, passive safety works to prevent or lessen harm to the driver and passengers.
Standard Passive Safety Systems
Seatbelts and airbags are two examples of safety passive technology found in vehicles today. Crumple zones are another system built into a vehicle’s structure to absorb the impact of an accident. These zones are usually found in the front and rear of a car and will crumple or deform during a crash and act like an accordion. This “cushion” slows down the vehicle and reduces the amount of force exerted on the occupants.
Newer cars and trucks also have Occupant Sensing Systems (OSS), Whiplash Protection (WLP), Child Safety Systems (CSS) and Pedestrian Safety Systems (PSS).
Occupant sensing features can detect if an adult or child is sitting in the passenger seat. This technology can determine what type of airbag is necessary based on the occupant’s classification.
Whiplash protection technology features a specially designed backrest that cradles the occupant’s body within the vehicle’s seat to protect them during a rear-end crash and limit the “whipping” motion of the head.
Child safety features are designed into special seats for kids riding in vehicles. These include the rear-facing child restraint, a seat for infants and toddlers; the forward-facing child restraint, a harness-equipped seat for kids ages 2 to 7 years and the booster seat, developed for children too big for child restraints.
Pedestrian safety advancements feature a system that can identify human movement near vehicles via sensors, AI or cameras. It automatically decreases the car’s speed to avoid a collision with the pedestrian.
The Impact of Electrical Vehicle Demand
As more drivers choose electric vehicles, the need for advanced passive safety systems is at the forefront. An electric vehicle requires safety features such as blind spot warning, auto braking, adaptive cruise control (ACC), auto assist and other innovations.
Volvo Vehicles debuted a unique safety feature in 2022 for electric trucks called Active Grip Control. This new technology enables the driver to refine acceleration, stability and braking during slippery conditions. The safety feature also reduces the danger of oversteering and jackknifing when driving unloaded.
The Passive Safety Evolution
In 2022, California saw nearly 160,000 car accidents resulting in injury or death. Technological advancements are an important part of preventing car accidents and keeping our roads safe for all users. Passive safety systems work quietly in the background and are designed to protect the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision. The automotive industry continues to innovate and redefine these standards. Virtual testing has become a key component of the industry with its keen ability to use advanced computer simulations for predicting the outcomes of crashes and assessing the effectiveness of safety features.
These sophisticated modifications do an excellent job of protecting drivers and contributing to an overall improved driving experience. However, no innovation is 100% perfect. Every time you get behind the wheel, add another layer of protection. Always wear your seat belt, follow the posted speed limit and practice defensive driving.
