The system requires no additional sensors because the necessary information is provided by the anti-lock braking system, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®), steering-angle sensors, the outside thermometer, and the navigation system. In addition to warning motorists of conditions in advance, the system also could be used to improve traffic flow — cars could guide their occupants away from traffic congestion.

The GM, DaimlerChrysler, and BMW Two-Mode Hybrid Transmission (t-variant), being developed under the Global Hybrid Cooperation effort. (DaimlerChrysler)

When an Accident Happens

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a new proposal last September that would require automakers to install electronic stability control (ESC) as a standard feature on all new passenger vehicles, beginning with the 2009 model year. The move could save more than 10,000 lives each year. ESC systems use automatic computer- controlled braking of individual wheels to help drivers maintain control in situations in which a vehicle without ESC would skid out of control and leave the road. Nearly all rollover crashes occur after a vehicle has left the road, according to the NHTSA. The anti-rollover measure would cost about $111 per vehicle on cars already equipped with ABS brakes.

When an accident does occur, safety belts, airbags, and side air curtains all help prevent fatalities. The NHTSA estimates that in 2006, U.S. vehicle fatalities reached their lowest levels since 1994, and safety belt usage reached 82%. Ford has begun developing next-generation safety belts that incorporate a four-point belt and “suspenders” in lieu of the traditional three-point belt, as well as an inflatable belt that incorporates an airbag directly into the belt.

The inflatable rear safety belt fills with air during a crash. A strap of airbag material is hidden in the seatbelt webbing, and inflates into a cylindrical shape when the front airbags deploy. The belt spreads the forces of a crash over a broader section of the body, reducing pressure on the chest and controlling the motion of the head and neck.