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