SAFETY MEANS
Anti-lock brake system
ABS
It is still an option for some golf models and supermini. Contrary to popular belief, ABS does not shorten the braking distance. More precisely, this can not be hoped for. It only allows you to maintain control of the car and perform a maneuver - for example, bypassing an obstacle - during intensive braking. And also do not turn off the engine when braking in gear. But this “only” is a great blessing, because with ABS, braking on a slippery road ceases to be a game “for whom God sends.” But keep in mind that ABS has high demands on the condition of shock absorbers and the coupling properties of tires. When the shock absorbers become decrepit, the wheels bounce on irregularities and spend a lot of time in the air. Since the suspension wheel locks during braking, ABS “loosens the grip” and braking performance is significantly reduced. The same with tires. The sooner they are blocked, the sooner the ABS "releases" them. Therefore, in winter, a car with ABS is practically deprived of brakes if it is shod in slippery summer tires.
Dynamic stabilization system
Esp
For two years now, it is mandatory for cars that are sold in Europe. Prevents demolition of the front and skidding of the rear axle at any position of the steering wheel and pedals - on a straight line, in a turn, during acceleration, braking or coasting. The system correctly guesses the path that the driver is currently setting. If, in the opinion of the system, the car starts to deviate from it, the electronics, by dumping gas or braking the “necessary” wheels, return it to the “true path”. Today, the dynamic stabilization system is the most effective means of increasing active safety. Therefore, if finances allow, do not even hesitate. True, when the dynamic stabilization system is not included in the standard equipment, it costs decent money.
Electronic Traction Control
Pbs
Or a traction control system. It is installed only with ABS. It limits the slipping of the drive wheels relative to the driven or relative to each other on all-wheel drive cars when starting and accelerating. This improves cross-country ability on a slippery or dirty road, and also eliminates the loss of control over the machine due to exhaustion with gas. For front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles, the traction control system is relevant in the presence of an excessively powerful motor. And for rear-wheel drive, it is highly desirable in any case.
ATTENTION! The capabilities of the above systems are limited. None of them are able to overcome the laws of physics. If you enter a turn, the speed limit of which in these conditions is 60 km / h, to enter 90 km / h, even a dynamic stabilization system will not keep the car on the road.
Electronic brake force distribution
Such a system allows you to transfer to the rear wheels the maximum braking force that they can realize before the start of the lock. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve more uniform wear of the pads, and in emergency situations to save precious crumbs of the braking distance. The electronic brake force distribution system and emergency brake booster are installed only together with ABS and, as a rule, normally.
Distance Keeping System
distanzija
This system is designed for a high culture of driving, when drivers do not rush about in rows and do not seek to get into every gap between cars. In Russia, automation of maintaining distance is a useless thing.
Airbags
podushki
Front air bags have long been mandatory for most cars. But our compatriots are not in a hurry to order side pillows (protect the chest) and window inflatable curtains (protect the head). In vain. Indeed, if in an accident, God forbid, the wife (mother, child) sitting next to you suffers, for the rest of your life you will be tormented by the fact that you could ease the fate of a loved one, but you stinted.
Switchable passenger airbag
podushki_otkl
When the child seat is mounted in the front passenger seat against movement, its back is close to the dashboard. In this case, the pillow that worked during the accident inflicts a severe blow to the back of the armchair (even a fatal outcome is possible). Therefore, on most vehicles, the instruction categorically prohibits the installation of a child seat from front to back with the front. But some of the cars are equipped with a deactivable passenger airbag on a regular basis or at a surcharge. And for some models, they offer an automatically shut-off pillow with an armchair presence sensor. True, in this case, you need to buy a special child seat compatible with the sensor from a car manufacturer.
ATTENTION! Any airbags (especially front ones) are effective only in conjunction with seat belts. Without straps, pillows do not save.
Seat belts with pretensioner and force limiter
remni
At the initial moment of the collision, the pretensioner pulls the belt with a sharp jerk so that the body of the driver or passenger does not have time to gain speed while the belt slack is selected. But when the peak of deceleration is reached, the force limiter slightly loosens the coil of the belt to reduce the load on the chest from the digging straps. On most modern cars, pretensioners and force limiters have long been the norm. They may not be only on the most affordable models.
Isofix Mounts
isofix
Ordinary baby seats are fixed with standard seat belts and therefore can be somewhat shifted upon impact. The isofix standard offers more effective protection for the child, since the armchair in this case is attached rigidly to the body through special brackets. Need to order. Definitely.
Active headrests
podgolovniki
When struck from behind under body pressure on the back of a chair, they are brought to the back of the head, reducing the force of the head and reducing the load on the cervical spine. It is difficult to say how active the head restraints are more effective than the usual ones, since not all firms offer them, even those that are considered luminaries in the field of safety. But money is not big either.
Power steering
Decreases productivity with increasing speed. It costs a little more than a full-time amplifier. On tight parking a light steering wheel for the benefit. But on a freeway, it’s often enough to reach for a pack of cigarettes to end up in a nearby lane. With the Servotronic, the steering wheel becomes heavier as you gain speed. Therefore, if you often drive along suburban highways and do not particularly observe the high-speed mode (which we do not recommend), you will immediately feel its advantages over a conventional amplifier.
Headlight washer jet
omyvatel
Alas, it is almost powerless against our dirt. If the headlight washer, when the light is on, works simultaneously with the windshield washer, the tank will be emptied instantly. When ordering xenon headlights, get a washer for free.
Xenon headlights
xenon
It makes sense to pay extra money for them only if you often ride on unlit suburban routes. Under such conditions, xenon provides much better visibility, which allows you to maintain a higher speed and less tire at the wheel. On the illuminated city streets, the benefits of xenon are almost imperceptible. For xenon headlights, a washer is mandatory. It is either already included in the price, or is required when ordering.
Bi-Xenon headlights
When xenon is used not only in low beam, but also high beam, such headlights are called bi-xenon. To use them, you need to travel far from major cities. Within a radius of 50-100 km from St. Petersburg or Moscow, even the usual halogen high beam is nowhere to be used. And xenon - even more so.
Headlights
fary_povorot
This option is still available for expensive cars, but pretty quickly "goes to the people." Side-mounted lamps are built into the turning lights, which light up at the same time as the turn indicator is turned on or the steering wheel begins to turn at city speeds (up to 50 or 60 km / h) and allows you to "peek" around the corner. It would seem a toy. But if turning lights even in Europe are in demand, then in Russia behind a turn you can even more than expect a pit of half a wheel or a pedestrian resting in the middle of the road. One trouble - while turning light is expensive. An alternative is additional bulbs built into the foglights. Significantly cheaper.
Fog lights
fary_tuman
Do not hope with their help to improve the lighting of the road in the dark. The range of foglights is much less than that of headlights. Therefore, after 40 km / h, their light beam disappears under the front bumper. But in heavy fog, when cars drive at a snail's speed, foglights, unlike dipped beam headlights, better indicate the boundaries of the road and do not give glare glare reflected in the water. Before ordering, estimate how often you drive along country roads (in the city they are practically useless). Because life is short fog. They regularly beat stones flying from under the wheels and burst from the temperature contrast when they take an ice shower from a puddle when turned on.
Headlights on automatically (light sensor)
This feature also works for security, as it eliminates the forgetfulness factor. Surely this happened: they stopped at the store in the evening and, leaving it, drove off with the lights off (street lamps illuminate the road).
Rain sensor
datchik
Convenient thing. If there is a sensor, the wipers automatically determine the speed, start and frequency of the sweeps, depending on the number of drops (or dirt) on the glass. On most machines, the sensitivity of the sensor can be adjusted as the interval of the usual "pause". The only question is the price of the sensor. For some cars, it is unreasonably expensive.
Parking sensors
parktronik
Ultrasonic parking sensors are becoming more widespread, and rightly so. Parktronic is not so much a means of saving bumpers as a means of safety. Indeed, a small child can hide behind the stern of a car. The only question is how much such a sensor costs. On some machines it is cheaper to install it in place than to order from the factory.
Tire Pressure Sensor
It helps to save the tire and not lose control at high speed. However, the price of the sensor at different companies differs quite significantly. Sometimes for the same money you can buy a set of new tires.
Auto dimming mirrors
zerkalo
For the interior mirror, the auto-dimming function is just a convenience, since it is also easy to manually translate it into the "night" position. Side mirrors are another matter. When the string behind the running cars shines headlights on the mirrors, in the eyes after a while it begins to ripple. Therefore, auto-dimming is very welcome here.
