Taking control of safety

As the debate rages on about allowing cars to intervene with functions such as braking or steering in critical situations, automakers and suppliers are continuing development, but many challenges remain.

Passive safety systems have been helping to drive traffic fatalities lower, but last year's increase in fatalities has prompted renewed attention on safety. The industry is moving forward with new and improved active systems that help drivers avoid accidents rather than trying to simply mitigate their impact.

A decline in U.S. traffic deaths since 1986 can be attributed, in large part, to passive safety systems such as airbags. Passive safety has gotten so good that “even the insurance agencies have declared victory,” said Thomas Baloga, General Manager of Safety Engineering at BMW of North America.