Pre-crash safety systems are the latest way of cutting collision injuries. The technology is able to detect impending danger and prepare the car’s safety equipment to minimise potential damage.

Like passive safety systems such as airbags and crumple zones that started out on luxury cars but are now familiar features on mid-market vehicles, pre-crash technology is expected to become a more common feature.

Different manufacturers have different systems. However, they work in broadly similar ways using radar or laser sensors at the front of the car to detect obstacles and measure the distance between the car and other road users. This information is combined with other vehicle data such as speed and steering wheel position. A computer then calculates when a collision is unavoidable.

When this happens the system prepares the car for impact: seatbelts are tightened, airbags and brakes are primed and suspension settings are altered for optimum braking performance.

The new Mercedes S-class features a system known as Pre-Safe that moves the front and rear passenger seats into their safest positions and closes the sunroof. Intelligent airbags work out how severe the impact will be and decide how fully to inflate.

The hybrid Lexus GS 450h, to be launched later this year, will include an onboard camera to monitor the driver. If an accident is looming and the driver is not looking straight ahead the car sets off an alarm and tightens the seatbelt to get the driver’s attention, or applies the brakes.

Honda’s new Accord, to be launched in March, will feature the Advanced Driving Assist Systems (ADAS). This will use a camera on the windscreen to detect when the car is drifting out of lane and send signals to the power steering to adjust — effectively steering the car out of trouble.

Explore Features

• Porsche

• BMW

• Mercedes

• Ferrari

• Bentley

• Audi

• Maserati

• Aston Martin

• Jaguar

• VW