Discover the essential safety features every modern car should include to enhance your protection on the road. These features work together to keep you safe while driving, making all the difference in preventing accidents and reducing serious injuries.

‘Smart’ Cars – What Makes Them Safe

When you think of safety features, you might picture seatbelts, airbags, curtain airbags, or child locks on rear doors. But modern cars offer much more than these basics. They incorporate three key types of technology to keep you moving safely. Euro NCAP regularly tests cars in Europe and awards safety ratings based on their performance.

First, there is Structural Integrity — the fundamental design and build of your car. This is the "bones" of your vehicle, engineered to absorb and distribute impact forces to minimize injury to occupants.

Next comes Passive Safety — built-in features that protect you during a collision, such as airbags, curtain airbags, knee airbags, and seatbelts with pre-tensioners.

Finally, there is Safety Assist Technology, the modern, evolving driver assistance systems that actively help prevent accidents. Examples include Blind Spot Monitoring, which alerts you to vehicles in your blind spot through lights in your wing mirrors, and adaptive cruise control, which maintains a safe distance from other vehicles in slow moving traffic.

Euro NCAP test cars available within the EU and will give the a star rating according to the test results. You can read more about the ratings and review stars here.

Remember, find the car that has the right safety features that suit your needs.

Here are our top 10 essential car safety features every modern vehicle should have:

1. Seatbelts with Pre-Tensioners

The invention of the 3-point seatbelt by Nils Bohlin in 1959 has saved a million lives by estimation. Volvo generously shared this life-saving technology with all car manufacturers, making it a mandatory safety feature in modern cars. Unlike old lap belts, the 3-point design secures both upper and lower body, keeping you safely restrained and preventing ejection during a crash. Seatbelt pre-tensioners tighten the belt when a crash is imminent, ensuring a snug fit. Warning systems also alert you if passengers forget to buckle up.

2. Airbags (Including Knee and Curtain Airbags)

Airbags inflate within milliseconds during a collision to cushion occupants from impact. Modern cars typically have multiple airbags:

• Front Airbags: Protect front-seat occupants in head-on collisions.
• Side Airbags: Protect the torso during side impacts.
• Curtain Airbags: Drop down from the roof lining to shield heads from impact and flying glass.
• Knee Airbags: Cushion the lower limbs and pelvis to reduce injury.

Most vehicles have at least six airbags, indicated by logos on the dashboard, seats, and roof area. When purchasing ask the dealer which airbags the car you are looking at has. Decide on the minimum airbags you want, not all models will have the lap airbags so if these are a feature you want make sure they are available.

3. Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS)

ABS prevents wheels from locking during sudden braking on slippery surfaces, allowing you to maintain steering control. The system automatically adjusts braking force on each wheel, helping you stop safely and avoid skidding, especially important in emergency stop situations.

4. Blind Spot Detection

Using sensors, blind spot detection warns you of vehicles in your blind spots with lights in side mirrors and audible alerts when you attempt to change lane. This feature reduces the risk of collisions caused by unseen vehicles.

5. Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist

Lane departure warning systems alert you if you unintentionally drift out of your lane, often through dashboard indicators and steering wheel vibrations. More advanced lane keeping assist systems actively steer the car back into the lane if you fail to respond, helping prevent accidents caused by lane drifting. These systems are crucial for maintaining lane discipline and protecting all road users.

6. Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

Forward collision warning systems use sensors to detect potential collisions ahead, alerting you to react in time. If you fail to respond, AEB automatically applies the brakes to reduce speed or stop the car, helping to prevent or mitigate accidents. For example, Suzuki’s Dual Sensor Brake System combines these features for enhanced safety. AEB became a legal requirement for all new cars manufactured in the EU after July 2024.

Tip: Regular maintenance of your brakes, including inspection and replacement of discs and pads, is essential to ensure these systems work effectively.

7. Automatic Headlights

Automatic headlights adjust beam intensity and direction based on surrounding light conditions, such as street lighting or oncoming traffic. They also adapt when driving uphill or carrying heavy loads, ensuring optimal visibility without dazzling other road users.

8. Parking Sensors and Rearview Cameras

Rearview cameras provide a clear view behind your car, helping you spot obstacles like children, pets, or bollards. Parking sensors emit beeps that increase in frequency as you approach an object, aiding safe manoeuvring in tight parking spots, especially useful in crowded car parks or obstructed areas with large SUVs.

9. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Also known by names like Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) or Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), ESC helps prevent skidding and loss of control. It monitors wheel speeds and steering inputs, automatically applying brakes or reducing engine power to maintain vehicle stability. ESC is especially beneficial in wet or slippery road conditions, helping to prevent accidents caused by loss of traction.

Tip: Maintaining good tire tread depth and proper tyre pressure is vital for ESC effectiveness. Tyre pressure monitoring systems alert you to under-inflated tires, reducing accident risks.

ESC has been mandatory on all new cars sold in the EU since 2014.

10. Traffic Sign Recognition and Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)

Traffic sign recognition systems use cameras to detect road signs such as speed limits, stop signs, and yield signs, displaying this information on your dashboard or head-up display. Intelligent Speed Assistance uses this data to warn you or limit your speed to comply with legal limits, helping prevent speeding-related road accidents. ISA became a legal requirement for all new car models introduced in the EU after July 2022.