safety & regulatory devices library

 

In the Safety & Regulatory Devices section you'll find tools and technology intended to keep drivers and passengers safe, from car seats and airbags to red-light camera technology.

Featured Article:  Have crash tests ever used live (or dead) human occupants?

A lot of engineering goes into crash test dummies. But as advanced as crash test dummies are, they can't tell researchers everything that happens in a crash. That's where human crash test dummies come in. See more »

5 Crash Test Videos

5 Crash Test Videos

Crash tests and crash test dummies are referenced often in popular culture, but how much do you really know about the process?

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Can a car really be death-proof?

Can a car really be death-proof?

What if your car came with a guarantee that you'd never die while driving or riding in it? It sounds far-fetched, but one company is promising such a car by 2020.

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Car Safety Quiz

Car Safety Quiz

Thousands of people are involved in car crashes each day. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risks involved with riding in automobiles. Find out if you're a car-safety whiz or a crash test dummy in this quiz.

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Car Seats: Fast Facts

Car Seats: Fast Facts

Car seats: Get fast facts on car seat safety and easy-to-read explanations on harnesses the LATCH system and what to look for when buying car seats.

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Have crash tests ever used live (or dead) human occupants?

Have crash tests ever used live (or dead) human occupants?

A lot of engineering goes into crash test dummies. But as advanced as crash test dummies are, they can't tell researchers everything that happens in a crash. That's where human crash test dummies come in.

See more »
How Airbags Work

How Airbags Work

Statistics show that airbags reduce the risk of dying in a head-on crash by 30 percent. Learn the science behind the airbag, what its problems are and where the research is heading.

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How Automotive Glass Works

How Automotive Glass Works

When you watch car commercials, you always hear automakers tout their vehicles' safety features. However, they rarely mention the most important one of all -- the glass that keeps you inside.

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How Brake Assist Works

How Brake Assist Works

If you've ever slammed on the brakes to barely avoid a collision, you know full well how important brake assist can be. Brake assist helps stop a vehicle faster to avoid crashes.

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How Car Testing Works

How Car Testing Works

Car testing is more than strapping a dummy to the driver's seat and releasing the brake. Engineers conduct myriad secret tests to assess everything from engine performance to design.

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How Child Car Seats Work

How Child Car Seats Work

Seatbelts save lives -- adult lives. For a seatbelt to do its job it must fit correctly, and on a small child a seatbelt is simply the wrong size. In this article, we'll examine the technology at work and find out how to choose the best child seat.

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How Crumple Zones Work

How Crumple Zones Work

Did you know that parts of your car are built with special structures designed to be damaged, crumpled, crushed and broken? These components redistribute the force of an impact before it reaches the vehicle's passengers.

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How Drive-by-wire Technology Works

How Drive-by-wire Technology Works

It's a technology that's been well-tested in the aviation industry for nearly two decades. So, why are automakers reluctant to bring drive-by-wire technology to the showroom floor -- or are they?

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How Occupant Classification Systems Work

How Occupant Classification Systems Work

Airbags have saved more than 27,000 lives since 1990, yet they still have detractors because of their danger to children. Occupant Classification Systems detect exactly who -- or what -- is sitting in your passenger seat.

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How Odometers Work

How Odometers Work

Mechanical odometers have been counting the miles for centuries. Although they are a dying breed, they are incredibly cool inside. Learn how this simple device tracks distance and find out about digital odometers.

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How Pre-Collision Systems Work

How Pre-Collision Systems Work

A pre-collision detection system sounds like something out of a science fiction film; however, these systems have actually been around for several years. So, what kinds of systems are available today?

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How Red-light Cameras Work

How Red-light Cameras Work

The light turns red. You're alone at the intersection. There's not another car in sight. Do you run it? Read this before you answer.

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How Seatbelts Work

How Seatbelts Work

Seatbelts save thousands of lives each year. How can a piece of fabric end up being the difference between life and death? What does a seatbelt actually do? Learn how seatbelts react in a crash.

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How Self-parking Cars Work

How Self-parking Cars Work

With parking space limited in big cities, squeezing your car into a tiny space is a vital skill. Learn how self-parking cars can remove the difficulty stress and uncertainty of this chore.

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How Speedometers Work

How Speedometers Work

Speedometers have been around since the early 1900s when cars began to grow in popularity and (literally) outpace the horse-drawn carriage.

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How Steering Wheel Controls Work

How Steering Wheel Controls Work

Multi-function steering wheels are improving automotive safety simply by placing the most commonly used electronic controls in a very convenient place -- right at the driver's fingertips.

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videos: driving & safety