| How safe is your car? Is it above average? Do | | | | feeling safer because they can see out over |
| you have any idea how well it can withstand | | | | traffic. Yet a vehicle with a high center of gravity |
| collision? The answers to these queries are very | | | | is more likely to roll. Large and heavy cars cocoon |
| important not just to car occupants but to | | | | passengers in copious steel, protecting them in |
| automakers as well. Experts say showing | | | | the event of a collision. Yet large and heavy |
| consumers how a particular car performs in times | | | | vehicles are more likely to lose traction. They're |
| of collision is an effective sales tactic. | | | | more likely to be involved in an accident in the |
| At the much-concluded New York Auto Show | | | | first place." |
| held last week, one of the most controversial | | | | But misconceptions are slowly jettisoning |
| displays was a crumpled Ford Taurus. The display | | | | consumers' mind. Last year, Volkswagen AG ran |
| was the Dearborn automaker's effort to show | | | | the "Safe Happens" campaign to promote the |
| visitors how durable Ford parts are and how well | | | | Jetta and the Passat. The campaign effectively |
| Taurus withstands a collision. | | | | tickled consumer interest in VW. |
| Ford Motor Co.'s display created an ambiance that | | | | SmartCar, moreover, used videos of the crash |
| made consumers think more about their car | | | | tests on the Internet even before the ForTwo |
| safety especially in a crash. For some buffs, the | | | | was offered for sale in America. At the |
| automaker's introduction of its innovative safety | | | | automaker's press events, crumpled, rolled and |
| features is treated as a breath of fresh air. | | | | battered vehicles were displayed. The move has |
| Historically, automakers avoid any suggestion that | | | | pulled consumers closer to SmartCar. |
| vehicles actually collide and occupants could die in | | | | Big names in auto safety such as Volvo Cars |
| their cars. However, safety inside cars has | | | | have also introduced features that provide |
| become a hot issue in the past decades. This is | | | | protection to occupants in collisions. Features |
| why, at present, automakers are finding ways to | | | | include crumple zones, seat belts, airbags, side |
| offer the most effective auto features to ensure | | | | impact protection, strong occupant compartment, |
| safety of car occupants. | | | | and head rests. What's more, car features that |
| Car safety has always been difficult to explain. It | | | | help avoid crashing such as electronic stability |
| is also difficult to sell. And automakers have | | | | control (ESC), antilock braking systems (ABS), |
| allowed unspoken white lies about safety to | | | | intelligent speed adaptation (ISA), traction control, |
| promote their cars. Wired News reported: "Drivers | | | | and active braking systems were also installed in |
| who ride high in a vehicle, for example, report | | | | vehicles. |