The most important systems on a performance car might surprise you. They might bore you. But ultimately – they just might save your life or the lives of your loved ones. Performance car safety systems are possibly the most important systems a high-end car might possess. In addition, because of the natural inclination many performance car owners might have to push their car’s performance to the limits, they might even be more important than you initially think.
Performance Car Safety Systems
I know when I first started driving, I thought safety systems were primarily the seatbelts and airbags, and of course those features are important but they don’t encompass the whole safety picture. Seatbelts are standard on cars these days, of course, and all new cars have to meet the particular safety standards set by the government.
But these days, I appreciate safety systems of any vehicle in a slightly wider context. After all – the best way to keep safe when it comes to auto accidents: never get in an accident. While driver training and experience is important, so too are various core components of a car. Such as its braking, steering, suspension, and frame design; in addition, these systems must flawlessly work together.
In my opinion, stability control systems are a core component drivers should look for when it comes to performance car safety (any car, really). Stability control systems should always be engaged, and any disengagement of the system should produce an immediate warning to the driver. Many performance vehicles do come with a way to turn off the system when you wish to push driving limits, or provide a means of modifying its settings via a supplementary stability control system.
Cars offering a supplementary stability control system such as Alfa Romeo Giuliettas have optional DNA technology. This DNA gives drivers the ability to select from a range of driving conditions – dynamic, normal, or all-weather, which in turn instructs the engine’s computer to adjust a range of
safety and performance systems related to steering, cornering, shifting, fuel consumption and more.
An Absolute Approach To Safety
Assessing each safety system independently is important to understanding a performance car’s safety under a multitude of circumstances. However, understanding the effect of all systems working together to protect each occupant (and each “kind” of occupant) is the ultimate goal of performance vehicle safety systems. Currently, Euro NCAP safety ratings take multi-factorial safety assessments into consideration, giving cars such as the
Alfa Romeo Giulietta simultaneous ratings related to “Adult Occupant,” “Child Occupant,” “Pedestrian Protection,” and “Injury Avoidance.” By looking at safety systems in this light, the true protection a car’s safety provides can be understood in a more relevant context.
Becky Doucet, from Melbourne, VIC, is an independent auto journalist covering a variety of brands. She enjoys driving her own
Alfa Romeo Giulietta en route to her regularly scheduled hiking adventures.