Cars Safety: Major Factors in Accidents - Assignment Example

Guide's CAR SAFETY: Car safety is the avoidance of car accidents or the minimization of harmful effects of accidents, in particular as pertaining to human life and health. Special safety features have been built into cars for years, some for the safety of car's occupants only, and some for the safety of others. Major factors in accidents include driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; inattentive driving; driving while fatigued or unconscious; encounters with road hazards such as snow, potholes, and crossing animals; or reckless driving. 1. Did you know that most people accept the first amount that insurance companies offer for claims in car accidents Insurance is a subject matter of probability of an event happening at a probable frequency and intensity. Insurance companies sell their policies on the commitment towards "hassle-free claims". However, when approached in case of accidents, they take advantage of customers ignorance and get away with meager reimbursements. In that case a little knowledge and know-hows of insurance laws takes care of under-estimation of our loss in accidents. Most likely, the insurance company gives first party coverage, under which both properties are insured, and third party coverage, which covers other people and their property involved in car accidents with you. It is advisable to go through the policy papers thoroughly to understand the extent of cover-up of loss [1]. Regardless of your initial research, there will always be confusion and ignorance about certain rights, hence it is very important to follow the guidelines set by insurance firms (such as reporting to them about accident in a given set of time) and do some estimation of the loss incurred by you. This estimation will help get approximate picture of amount that should be covered by insurance company. Most people accept whatever the agents assert as the compensation money and do not give it a second thought. However, the insurance agents try to finalize the claim at a much less amount. Therefore, a prior working knowledge of insurance claims greatly helps towards the cause. And as a last minute advice, please do not give an autograph on any paper given by agents, without having complete account of what it means. Trust me; the signatures are not for a scrapbook entry. Be on the safer side, drive carefully. 2. Did you know that many car accidents are caused due to drivers playing with the radio while driving The next time you try doing multi-tasking while driving, keep the facts and statistics on car accident in mind: Every 12 minutes, one person dies because of a car accident. Every 14 seconds, a car accident results in an injured victim. So in order to ensure we are not the ones contributing towards such facts, it becomes important to follow some safety instructions that ensure safety of driver as well as the passengers travelling with driver. The driver is a responsible person since life of everyone sitting inside a car is in drivers hands. In every accident case, it comes to light that one or the other safety step was not taken/considered or even ignored in some extreme cases. Simple preventive measures like wearing seat belts, acknowledging speed limits and using horn/lights effectively go a long way in ensuring safe traveling experience. As an extreme step, car manufacturers should start installing features like computerized announcements to wear seat belts, the reason being the elevated extent of damage in accidents in which seat belt was not worn by drivers [2]. According to the car accident statistics released by the United States Department of Transportation's (USDOT's) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were almost 43,000 deaths in 2002 because of car accidents, and the car accident fatalities for the year 2003 stand at 42,643 [2]. Not using safety belts increased the likelihood of injury by 119 percent for young women, 164 percent for middle-aged women and 187 percent for older women [3]. The foremost contribution in these figures results from driving while under the effect of alcohol. Drunk drivers pose threat as big as to themselves but more evidently to other commuters on road or pedestrians on pavements. After all, every curve is a straight way home for a drunkard. Rest of accidents witness youthful exuberance and adrenaline taking its toll on minor drivers who do not even have a valid license but an urge to climb the "stairway to heaven". 3. Do you know that out of all, two age groups namely children and elder people are less immune to accident injuries Car accident is a very routine incident in todays cities. Every individual riding a bus aspires to own a private vehicle (preferably car), and as a result the density of vehicular activity is increasing day by day. This has resulted in traffic congestion and difficulty in managing the flow of vehicles. However, most car accidents are caused by sheer negligence on part of the driver/passengers. Such negligent driving takes its toll on pedestrians as well as the passengers. Among the worst affected are children and elder people who have a low immune system. Their ability to cope with injuries is less as compared to adults. Now we will look into the factors such as age and gender and their effect on driving styles and injuries incurred. Quoting what Mannering says in [3] as: "the factors that affect how severely you are going to be injured vary depending on your age and gender, a better understanding of age and gender differences can lead to improvements in vehicle and highway design to minimize driver injury severity," further what is clear is that safety research and policy must begin to seriously address gender- and age-related matters because there are compelling differences and considerable potential to improve safety if these differences are properly addressed." Road accidents in early age group of 16-24 are due to rash driving mainly. Therefore, in order to make the journey safe, we should always take precautions and keep check on under age children so that they keep away from driving on the roads before their age limits and a valid license issued. This is because adults have more driving experience than minor age group drivers. 4. Did you know that some foam can help save our lives in automobile accidents and crashes Yes you read it right, its a foam. No you a wrong, we are not talking about sponges here. Don't be confused, these are the new age advanced materials which are still being researched upon under prototype stage. This class of material is termed as metallic foam (or simply metal foams.). Metal foam is simply gas suspended in a liquid phase which is then quickly stabilized/freezed to get solid state pores and vacant spaces in the material, basically Aluminium and steel. There is relatively less use of material which gives metal foam its distinct light weight property. Metal foam is used as a sacrificial component to go through impacts and crashes etc. So, its basic application in automobile industry requires it to absorb large quantum of impact energies which causes it to COLLAPSE IRREVERSIBLY (they are not usable for that particular application after failure). Metal foams have properties like, high stiffness, low specific weight (light weight.), large values of impact energy absorption, gas and water permeability and other are the properties by which they are distinctly known. Hence, they find similar applications like shock (or crash) absorbers, light weight Machine components. [4] The above picture represents an analogy between a metal foam and a bread. There are numerous applications of metal foams out of which major is in automobile chassis formation. A metal foam sheet will absorb most of the energy of the crash or accident (normal sheet will transfer this energy with little depreciation to the inside of the car) and will keep the interior of the car at minimum damage. Hence, saving human lives. 5. Did you know that there is a new fleet of cars which are driven by computers while you read newspaper while driving Unbelievable it may seem but its true that the technology has arrived that will steer the wheel and change gear for us besides taking us where we want to go. The system is called ESC, Electronic Stability Control. By applying pressure to individual brakes, ESC keeps the vehicle from either oversteering (fishtailing) or understeering (plowing) and keeps the vehicle stable [5] some even keep a particular safe distance of adequate reaction time needed to apply brake and if situation arrives do so too. with full coverage by sensors and cameras both in rear as well as front of the car, surveillance is of topmost quality. ESC is one part of an expanding active safety envelope. Cameras and radar add a whole new dimension. They can detect objects beyond the driver's line of sight and, with the help of computers, gauge the speed of those objects more quickly and with more precision than any human. "If you get hit in a side impact, there's about 6 in. between you and that incoming car's hood ornament," says Philip Headley, chief engineer for advanced technology at Continental, a major developer and supplier of automotive safety controls. "If the system's camera can see the car coming, there's more time to deploy the side airbags."[5]. There are other car driving simulators and also systems on which the whole programming runs. These programs help in accomplishing the control on the vehicle. Such facilities are largely helpful to teens that do not have much experience in driving. Also there are cruise controls in cars. The cruise control system controls the speed of the car by adjusting the throttle position [6]. 6. Did you know that these days you become virtually secure inside a car because of salient safety features To make driving safer and prevent accidents from occurring, cars may have the following active safety features: Turn signals and brake lights, including Centre High Mounted Stop Lamps (CHMSL) Anti-lock braking system (ABS) (also Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA), often coupled with Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), which prevents the brakes from locking and losing traction while braking. This shortens stopping distances in almost all cases. Traction control (TCS) actuates brakes or reduces throttle to restore traction if driven wheels begin to spin. Four wheel drive (AWD) with a centre differential. Distributing power to all four wheels lessens the chances of wheel spin. It also suffers less from oversteer and understeer than front wheel drive, but more understeer than rear wheel drive. Reverse backup sensors, which alert drivers to nearby objects in their path, are installed in some high-end vehicles, but may also be purchased separately. Electronic Stability Control (ESC, also known by numerous manufacturer-specific names). Uses various sensors to intervene when the car senses a possible loss of control. The car's control unit can reduce power from the engine and even apply the brakes to prevent the car from understeering or oversteering. Dynamic steering response (DSR) corrects the rate of power steering system to adapt it to vehicle's speed and road conditions. Lateral Support: Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). Directional headlights. Low centre of gravity and other conventional features promoting good car handling and braking, and helping to avoid rollover. Large (relative to weight) high performance tires, suited to the weather and road conditions, contribute to braking and handling. Soft high resistant rubber, tread and cord design are important. Visibility for the driver, mirrors, elimination of blind spots and possibly other awareness aids such as radar, wireless vehicle safety communications and night vision. Death Brake; there is a move to introduce deadman's braking into automotive application, primarily heavy vehicles, there may also be a need to add penalty switches to cruise controls. Four wheel steering gives, at the cost of mechanical complexity, quicker, more accurate maneuvers at high speed and/or decreased turning circle at low speed. It may also help stability. Adaptive cruise control (ACC). 7. Did you know that most of the car accidents are caused by negligent/ignorant behavior of drivers toward meager things Talking to fellow passengers, or on cell phones, drinking and driving and most importantly, (In 59% of all driving fatalities the person was not wearing a seatbelt. More life is lost by not wearing a seatbelt than is caused by drunken driving [7]), not wearing a seatbelt are some of the causes for disastrous accidents resulting in loss of life and property. Experts state that the major causes of car accidents are driver distractions. Dangerous distractions that can lead to an accident include cell phones and other gadgets that drivers use as they drive. Cell phones, laptops, electric razors, etc. causes drivers to take their eyes off the road for seconds at a time with the potential to cause a serious, if not deadly, accident. In response to this, some states in the US have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while people are driving. The alternative is to use a hands free ear bud that is lightweight and comfortable, and allows a driver to carry on a conversation without diversions. Another dangerous distraction is when a driver who has been drinking and then attempts to drive. The effects of alcohol can and does raise havoc behind the while. Anyone with a blood alcohol level of .01 is considered unfit to drive. The effects of driving while intoxicated include drowsiness, loss of focus and the inability to judge distances and reaction times. Rubbernecking and tailgating are other potentially dangerous habits that many practice while driving. Rubbernecking occurs when drivers slow down to look at another accident on the road or anything that looks unusual on the highway. When a driver slows a car down too quickly, the driver in the car behind often times doesn't have enough time to slow down or stop and runs into the back of the vehicle in the lead. Rear end collisions can lead to serious injuries. The same applies for tailgating in that a driver who is following a car too closely may not have enough distance to stop suddenly, and the potential for a serious accident is eminent. A driver's behavior causes many accidents; still others are caused by mechanical failure or road conditions. There are technical solutions that are available to help with these problems and have contributed to a decline in the death rates caused by automobile accidents. They include proximity monitors that let a driver know how close they are to the vehicle ahead; sobriety detectors, that measure the amount of alcohol that a driver has consumed and drifting monitors that alert a driver when his or her car drifts too far to one side of the road or the other. 8. Did you know that car safety issue became prevalent immediately after invention of automobile Car safety became an issue almost immediately after the invention of the automobile, when Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot crashed his steam-powered "Fardier" against a wall in 1771. One of the earliest recorded automobile fatalities was Mary Ward, on August 31, 1869 in Parsonstown, Ireland. In 1958, the United Nations established the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, an international standards body advancing auto safety. Many of the most life saving safety innovations, like seat belts and roll cage construction were brought to market under its auspices. In 1966, the US established the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) with automobile safety one of its purposes. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was created as an independent organization on April 1, 1967, but was reliant on the DOT for administration and funding. However, in 1975 the organization was made completely independent by the Independent Safety Board Act. In June, 2004 the NTSB released new tests designed to test the rollover risk of new cars and SUVs. Only the Mazda RX-8 got a 5-star rating. However, the correlation between official crash test results and road deaths in vehicles is not exact. An alternative method of assessing vehicle safety is to study the road accident statistics on a model-by-model basis. Despite technological advances, the death toll of car accidents remains high: about 40,000 people die every year in the US [2]. While this number increases annually in line with rising population and increased travel, the rate per capita and per vehicle miles travelled decreases. In 1996 the US has about 2 deaths per 10,000 motor vehicles, comparable to 1.9 in Germany, 2.6 in France, and 1.5 in the UK. In 1998 there were 3,421 fatal accidents in the UK, the fewest since 1926 [2]. A much higher number of accidents result in permanent disability. 9. Did you know that out of all safety systems, air bags, braking and wheel base are the systems that make a difference between safe and unsafe journey Tyre system: there are number of parameters like tyre pressure, wheel balancing, alignment, and tyre wear out that when kept up to date, the problem of malfunction due to tyre problems is resolved. Air pressure in tyre determines the area of tyre which remains in contact with ground (hence amounting for friction force). If the air pressure is high, the grip of tyre on ground becomes less and can result in fatal consequences. On the other hand, there is restriction on lower air pressure keeping in mind fuel efficiency (because more friction produces more heat/wear in tyres and hence causes loss of precious energy. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure for all the five tyres is an important safety tip that all owners should follow to enhance the performance of your car. Tyre pressure affects a number of parameters in the car, including fuel-efficiency, tyre life, highway safety, ride quality and the longevity of the car itself. Under-inflated tyres is one of the most common problems, as most car users do not follow the tyre pressure regimen recommended by the manufacturer.[8] Airbag systems: after seatbelts, airbags are the most revolutionary system that works in opposite direction to the motion of human body in case of sudden decrease in speed. Airbags provide comfortable and slow forward motion in order to save the head from sudden motion of inertia, thus saving ones life. Airbags are deployed in steering hood and are inflated through a crash sensor and inflation mechanism. The bag itself is made of a thin, nylon fabric, which is folded into the steering wheel or dashboard or, more recently, the seat or door. The sensor is the device that tells the bag to inflate. Inflation happens when there is a collision force equal to running into a brick wall at 10 to 15 miles per hour (16 to 24 km per hour). A mechanical switch is flipped when there is a mass shift that closes an electrical contact, telling the sensors that a crash has occurred. The sensors receive information from an accelerometer built into a microchip. The airbag's inflation system reacts sodium azide (NaN3) with potassium nitrate (KNO3) to produce nitrogen gas. Hot blasts of the nitrogen inflate the airbag [9] Suspension makes a large difference in making the journey more comfortable on the paths where no road has been build or while riding in unstructured areas where there are many bumpy tracks. Weather conditions: it makes a lot of difference whether we are driving on a rainy day or there are thunder storms and if the temperature on road is pretty high so as to cause tyre wear out. For instance, during snowy weather, the cars tend to slip away and brakes also do not work appropriately. Hence, it is advisable to choose the driving time and place accordingly or even choose public transport system at that time and condition 10. Did you know that avoiding a car accident is a lot simpler than carrying someone (hurt in an accident) to nearest hospital Our grandparents and parents keep on saying that: "prevention is better than cure". It is much useful and appropriate with regard to car accidents. If we follow minor "to check" list against any malfunction in the car assembly, and we follow all the seemingly unaffecting instructions while driving, we can save ourselves from the pain of going through the entire trauma related to accidents. Pregnant women should discuss their travel plans with the physicians and if have to travel, should always wear a seat belt. Special seat designs are available for small children and pregnant women to increase their safety. "Pregnant women not wearing a seat belt during a car crash are three times more likely to lose the baby they're carrying and twice as apt to have excessive maternal bleeding as are belted pregnant women. They are also more likely to deliver low-birth-weight babies, according to a study of Utah data by the University of Utah and the University of Pittsburgh [10] Safety precautions such as avoiding drinks on the night when you plan to drive back home, not keeping eyes off the road for a long and unaccounted time or for that matter do not attend any mobile phone calls are some steps forward to increase and assure a high level of safety while driving. Work cited [1] Car Accident: Insurance Claims, cited on 16 Feb. 2008 [2] Car Accident Statistics, cited on 16 Feb. 2008 [3]Age, Gender Major Factors In Severity Of Auto-accident Injuries, Science Daily, Jan 7, 2007. Cited on 16 Feb. 2008 [4] [5] Stewart Ben, Is Your Car Smarter Than You Are Cited on 16 Feb. 2008http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4201979.html [6] Controlling the Cruise Control, Cited on 16 Feb. 2008 http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cruise-control3.htm [7] Car Accident Statistics, Cited on 16 Feb. 2008 http://www.car-accident-advice.com/car-accident-statistics.html [8] Watch your tyre pressure, Cited on 17 Feb. 2008 http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2005/09/18/stories/2005091800311500.htm [9] How "airbags" work Cited on 17 Feb. 2008 http://www.howstuffworks.com/airbag.htm [10] Seat-belt use when pregnant is crucial, Cited on 17 Feb. 2008 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030731/ai_n11413434 Read More