Created through a joint venture by Mercedes-Benz and the Swatch corporation, the smart brand of cars represents a unique alternative to conventional passenger vehicles. The smart line is designed to offer drivers maximum fuel efficiency in a tiny package. The most recognizable characteristic of a smart car is its size, and with such a small vehicle, it's key to ensure that drivers are safe when traveling alongside the smart car's larger counterparts.
Smart Car Design
Smart car safety begins with its basic framework, which centers around a structure called a tridion safety cell. According to smart USA, the safety cell is a steel housing that is designed to displace the force of crash impacts in different areas of the car. Smart car models feature steel bumpers at the front and rear that are connected directly to the safety cell by slip tubes. Depending on the speed of the impact, the slip tubes will crumple, deflecting much of the force away from the safety cell.
Active Safety Features
In addition to their structural design, smart cars also feature several active safety features. According to smart USA, the most important active safety component is the esp system, or Electronic Stability Program. This system involves a series of sensors which detect skidding or swerving movement and act to correct the forward motion of the vehicle. Additional anti-skid safety features include a cornering brake control, acceleration skid control and an engine torque control.
Passive Safety Features
Smart models also feature several passive safety features that are found in conventional full-size vehicles. According to smart USA, these passive safety features include front and side airbags for both the driver and passenger, seats constructed from a modular steel with integrated headrests and a unique seatbelt system which uses sensors to control the amount of pressure applied to the body when the motion of the vehicle changes rapidly. In a head-on collision, the steering column is designed to crumple to minimize the impact to the chest and head of the driver.
Highway Safety Ratings
The safety rating of any vehicle is typically determined by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the IIHS, all 2008 to 2010 models of the smart fortwo received the institute's top rating for crash test safety. The NHTSA awarded the smart fortwo five stars in terms of side impact safety for drivers and four stars for frontal impacts on the driver's side. The smart fortwo received three stars for frontal impacts on the passenger side and rollovers.
Considerations
If you're thinking of purchasing one of the smart brand of cars, it's important to consider your driving habits, lifestyle and geographic location. For example, if you have small children who travel in child safety seats, you will need to consult your local laws to determine whether your child can ride in the front seat. If you live in an area that have variable weather conditions, such as heavy snow in winter, you may want to consider whether a smart car will be able to navigate the terrain.
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