The Indian car buyer is evolving. Gone are the days when buyers only looked at mileage (or “Kitna deti hai”) and re-sale values. A new group of car buyers is emerging that also has their family’s safety in mind. Since you are reading this article, you can consider yourself a part of this group. Young buyers are demanding car safety features such as airbags, ABS, and a more robust vehicle body. “NCAP” Ratings have become important selection criteria.
Car manufacturers have responded positively to their customers’ requirements. The market is flooded with all sorts of car safety features. Not just the ABS and airbags, some cars are also being fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)!
Even the Indian manufacturers, who have long held a reputation of selling cars with a compromise on safety, have got in the act and are producing safer cars that rival their global counterparts. Getting a 5-star safety rating at the NCAP is a marketing pitch. All in all the future is brighter and safer for car buyers in India.
But, there is a catch…
Safety comes at a higher price. Though the government has taken steps to standardize some car safety features, a fully-equipped safe car is still a luxury for most people.
Many buyers have some questions such as “Should I buy a car with more airbags or a higher NCAP rating?” or “Do I buy a car with ESC?” or even “Are all car safety features really required?”
That is why, as an automotive safety engineer and road crash analyst, I have listed down the most important car safety features you need to consider while buying a car.
I have separated the car safety features into three categories: “Must-haves”, “Good-to-have”, and “Hold-off for Now”. Let us look at each category in detail.
- Must-have car safety features
- Good-to-have car safety features
- Car safety features to hold off for now
- Having more car safety features does not make your car invincible!
Must-Have Car Safety Features
These are the non-negotiable car safety features. Try not to negotiate around them or you may compromise on safety. Let us start with a basic feature present in all cars…
The Seat belt
Every topic on car safety features should always start with the humble seat belt. The seat belt has been present in cars for almost 50 years now. Yet there is no denying that the seat belt is the most important car safety feature ever made. Other safety features are designed assuming that you are belted.
Unfortunately in India, the seat belt is also the least respected. I consider the seat belt a superpower we all have but one we never use.
We prefer doing all sorts of things to turn off the seat belt reminder than wearing the belt itself. Most cars have rear seat belts tucked under the seat or even cut out entirely! Very few drivers realize that an unbelted occupant in the rear seat will hurt the driver in a crash. Here is a video that illustrates this.
Wearing a seat belt is not an option. No matter where you are seated.
Luckily, seat belts are present in all cars. You don’t have to shell extra to get them. The only issue here is that many budget or entry cars still do not have a three-point belt on all seats, even though the government has made it mandatory. Always try to get a car with three-point belts on all seats
Airbags
Perhaps the most popular car safety feature in India, the airbag is a passive safety device that cushions the occupants in a severe crash. Multiple airbag systems are used to cushion impacts from different sides.
The popularity of the airbag has sky-rocketed in the last decade. Common wisdom tells us that more airbags equal more safety. However, more airbags do not guarantee more safety.
Airbags are also the most misunderstood of all safety devices. There are many minor details involved in airbags. Here are some important points related to airbags:
- You need to wear a seat belt even if your car has 6 airbags. Otherwise, the airbags won’t protect you and perhaps even hurt you!
- Airbags will deploy even if you are not belted.
- Airbags have specific working parameters and will not deploy in all crashes.
I have talked about airbags and their deployment conditions in this detailed article on airbags.
Seat belt pre-tensioner
The pre-tensioner and load limiters are passive safety features incorporated within the seat belt. The seat belt pre-tensioner holds you in place and keeps you safe from facial injuries caused by airbags.
Pre-tensioners are usually sold along with airbags. But some cars have airbags with no pre-tensioners. You can check the car’s manual for pre-tensioner availability.
Good Crashworthiness (Aka ‘Build Quality’)
Airbags and pre-tensioners won’t provide much benefit if the car’s body itself is not strong enough to handle the impact force. What good is an airbag if the car body crumbles in a crash and reduces your survival space?
Good build quality does not mean the car is indestructible though. It is exactly the opposite. Well-built cars are designed to crumple but keep the passenger compartment safe. You can read all about how to judge a car’s build quality in this article.
NCAP tests are a good starting point to find cars with a good build. Choose a car with a 4 or 5-star rating. However, a car with a high NCAP rating is not invincible. I request you to read this detailed article on the NCAP rating and its limitations before you buy a car.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Airbags, pre-tensioners, and good build quality are “Passive safety features“. They keep you safe if your car crashes.
Active safety features help in preventing a crash itself. The most popular active safety system is the Anti-lock Braking System or ABS.
Watch this video to understand how ABS works:
ABS is one of the most important active safety features. The Indian government has made ABS mandatory in new cars for some years now.
You can also do a simple test to check if your car has ABS. The next time you press the brake pedal, try to feel how the pedal responds. In cars with ABS, you will feel a slow pulsating pressure on your foot. Don’t be alarmed by this pulse. It is simply how the ABS works.
Remember that ABS only works when you apply the brakes. ABS won’t help if you only steer to avoid a crash.
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) or Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The ESP or ESC is an advancement to the ABS. While ABS helps you steer the car while braking, the ESC keeps your car stable in many different conditions. The ESC module consists of sensors attached to the steering and wheels. The car’s computer uses these sensors to monitor the car’s stability. A standard ESC not only has ABS but also provides additional features such as providing stability while steering, Traction Control (prevents wheel spin during acceleration making it useful on slippery surfaces), Hill-hold (to keep the vehicle stable on slopes), etc.
To clear a common misconception: The ESC module does not provide cornering stability. Don’t go around corners or take sharp turns at high speeds expecting the ESC to save you.
Some cars have a feature called “Cornering Stability Control”. This is not ESC!
Earlier, cars with fully enabled ESC cost above Rs 20 lakhs. However, recent trends have shown that we can get ESC in cars as low as 15 lakhs! Always go for an ESC-equipped car if you can afford it.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Tyres are the only car component in contact with the road all the time. It can be catastrophic if anything goes wrong with the tyres.
Tyre safety is important and tyre health needs to be regularly monitored. The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System or TPMS uses sensors to check tyre conditions. Any issue with the tyres is immediately alerted to the driver.
TPMS adoption has increased in recent years. You can also get after-market kits but it is hard to comment on their reliability. Another option is to keep a tyre pressure and tread gauge handy to manually monitor the tyre conditions.
Good-to-have Car Safety Features
These safety features are not absolutely necessary in your car. However, they are an excellent addition to your car’s safety arsenal.
ISOFIX mounts for Child Car Seats
Every child should only travel in Child Car Seats or Child Seats. If you have never heard of child seats, you can read this detailed article where I have written extensively about child seats.
ISOFIX mounts are useful as they provide a secure and simple attachment method for child seats. However, ISOFIX mounts also have limitations. Seat belts can also be used to fix child seats.
Cruise Control
As the name implies, the Cruise Control feature helps you cruise at a set speed. In a car with Cruise Control, all you have to do is set a speed. Once the speed is set, the computer takes over and ensures that the speed is maintained. All you have to do is to control the steering.
Cruise control is quite relaxing if you are traveling on a highway without much traffic. But, driving on Cruise Control in a city or a crowded road is next to impossible as you need to change speeds constantly. Using cruise control is also quite risky in wet conditions or fog.
The Cruise Control is a leisure safety feature. However, studies indicate that drivers using Cruise Control tend to relax a bit too much and don’t remain alert. Always remain alert while using the Cruise Control.
Reverse/Parking Sensor
The reverse or parking sensors prevent crashes that occur in a driver’s blind spot. A sensor in the car’s rear alerts the driver of an impending collision. These sensors are immensely useful in scenarios such as detecting playing children, sitting pedestrians or unseen objects behind the car. Many new cars come with reverse parking sensors. Some even have reverse cameras.
If your car does not have a reverse parking sensor, you can also get an aftermarket fitment.
Car Safety Features that you should hold off for now
Till now we have discussed car safety features that are either necessary or good to have.
There are also some car safety features that sound highly advanced and future-tech. However, I would suggest that you hold off from buying cars with such features for now.
I only have a “single” feature in this list…
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
You may have heard of ADAS if you have been following new car launches. ADAS is not a single feature, but a group of features that work together to assist the driver. The most popular features include:
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)/Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Blindspot Monitoring/Detection System (BMS/BDS)
ABS, ESC, TPMS, and Parking sensors are also a part of ADAS.
ADAS also has 5 levels of “Autonomous Driving”. In Autonomous Driving the car’s computer is able to drive the vehicle by itself with minimal driver input.
ADAS sounds amazing, right? I mean, who does not want to buy a car that can drive by itself!?
However, ADAS is not as rosy as it sounds on paper….yet.
ADAS Limitations
You need to consider some points before getting an ADAS-equipped vehicle.
- ADAS in India is in the nascent stages. Although there have been rigorous tests, we are yet to see how ADAS adapts to Indian roads. That is a huge challenge and may take some years to show results.
- Features such as ACC and AEB require belt usage. Otherwise, you risk getting hurt.
- LDW requires well-marked roads. However, road marking in India is not ready yet. How can the car maintain lane discipline if the road does not have lane lines? The same also applies to Traffic Signage recognition.
- ADAS systems in India are at Level 2/3 at the maximum. You are still expected to drive the car. We haven’t reached the point where you can watch a movie on your phone as your car drives by itself.
- Finally, the cost. Be prepared to spend at least 15-20 lakh rupees to get an ADAS-equipped car.
Overall ADAS is a promising safety feature. It may work in a developed country where the drivers are disciplined and the road infrastructure is top-notch. Making ADAS work in India is going to be a challenge considering the chaos on our roads. The car’s computer would simply freeze!
I suggest that you should hold off from buying an ADAS-equipped car. If interested, you can also get some ADAS features through dash cams.
Having more car safety features does not make your car invincible.
Whew!
I apologize for the long article. The article had to be long to cover all important car safety features!
Remember that having a lot of safety features does not make your car invincible. All car safety features have a limit. No feature can escape the laws of physics!
- Seat belts and airbags won’t help if you crash at 100 kmph.
- ESC will not help if you decide to corner at high speeds.
Always drive with caution and wear a seatbelt.
The “Must-have” features are enough to keep you safe. Nowadays, you don’t even need to spend a fortune to get these car safety features. You can consider ESC if you are willing to spend more.
If you found this article useful, you can go ahead and share it. I believe all car buyers need to understand the safety features they are buying.
Last Updated on August 12, 2023 by RohanG