Smart Car Safety Is Unmatched

Smart Car Crash Test? No Problem!

Safety was obviously the driving factor in smart car design. All 3 models, including the base Pure model, come standard with every safety feature smart offers. On this page, you'll learn how even the smart car crash test demonstrates the power of the tridion safety cell design.

There are so many smart car safety features packed into this little car that give it high safety ratings. Smart's safety design is built around protection and control. Let's take a closer look at each category...

Automotive Protection

• The tridion safety cell provides steel cage protection around you, along with side braces for each door.

• There are two front smart car air bags and two side smart car air bags.

• Bucket seats have built-in headrests to protect your head and neck during a collision.

• High-mounted, safety-designed bucket seats have integrated seatbelts containing belt tensioner and belt-force limiter technology.

• There is a wheel-absorbing impact design to assist with smart car safety in front/read end collision.

• Also, front/rear bumpers assist with the crumple zone the smart fortwo has.

• A collapsible steering column limits injuries in the event of a crash.

Safety by Control

• You get an antilock braking system (ABS), along with an array of electronic braking features such as:

  • ESP - Electronic Stability Program, prevents swerving if you fishtail.

  • CBC - Cornering Brake Control, counteracts a potential tendency to swerve by distributing brake forces selectively - even below the threshold of ABS activity.

  • BAS - Brake Assist System, senses when you have stepped on the brake quickly but have not applied it hard enough to activate the ABS system.

  • ASC - Acceleration Skid Control, acts much like a differential lock, but does it by directing power to the wheel, offering optimum traction.

  • ETC - Engine Torque Control, provides engine control when driving on slippery surfaces. It "feathers" the throttle on low traction acceleration and limits torque in down shifting applications.

    Note: Both ASC & ETC are designed to help the smart fortwo move forward on slippery surfaces.

  • HSA - Hill Start Assist, which is an automatic feature so you don't roll backwards if you are starting up a hill.

• Finally, a traction control system adds to your safety on wet roads.

All of these smart car safety features work together to ensure that the little smart can pass just about any smart car crash test it might be subjected to! See it in action in this smart car crash test video I found on YouTube:

Additional Smart Car Safety Features

And protection from crashes isn't all that smart offers in the way of safety. They also include the following features:

• Hydraulic dual-circuit brakes
• Tire repair kit
• Top tether for child restraint system
• Panic button on key
• Drive lock - auto-activation of the central locking when driving

And here are a few more safety features...

• Smart cars have a lockable glove compartment for all your important "stuff".
• Use the dome light for nighttime use.
• Doors can be locked so they only open from the inside for security.
• Remote control keys open the doors, rear top window of tailgate and roof release on the Cabriolet.

So, as you can see smart cars are safe both inside and outside!

In summary... one of the things that surprises people most when we're talking about my smart car is how safe it is. People assume that because of its small smart car size that smart car safety automatically suffers. Nothing could be further from the truth!

By the way, if you're a smart car owner who's been in a smart car crash of your own, you can share your own smart car accident experience with us...