As drivers, we understand the importance of taking proactive steps to ensure our safety on the roads, including maintaining our vehicles in top condition. But have you or your business considered investing in newer vehicles?
Modern technology is constantly evolving to prevent collisions and enhance safety autonomously, offering significant benefits for your peace of mind and your safety. Below, we take a look at what new safety technologies mean for you and your fleet. First let’s look at ‘passive safety systems’:
Passive Safety Systems
- Air bags
Airbags are designed by using impact sensors to inflate upon collision to cushion severity of impact to a driver or passenger/s. - Child Safety System
A child's car seat is required by law up to 12 years old or 135cm tall, and can, in most modern cars, be secured to the rear seats of a car using an ISOFIX system. ISOFIX is an internationally standardised car seat fitting system that when fitted correctly, automatically locks a car seat (or car seat base) onto two metal clips. - Crumple zones
Typically outer areas of a vehicle that are designed to deform/crumble in the event of a collision, absorbing some of the kinetic energy to prevent its impact to any passengers. - Occupant Sensing System
This works by a pressure sensor detecting the weight of a properly seated passenger, enabling air bag/s to inflate in the event of impact. - Pedestrian Safety System
This system is again enabled by sensors detecting potential collisions and warning the driver with prompts and often automated braking. - Seat belts
Safety belt worn to secure the driver and/or passenger to prevent sudden harmful movements. They are typically worn across the stronger chest and pelvis area to spread force and designed to prevent you colliding with the interior of the vehicle or worse being thrown from the vehicle. - Whiplash Protection System
WLP equipped seats are designed to reduce to risk of whiplash with energy-absorbing backrests with a pre-determined rate of movement and often high-mounted headrests.
The most common cause of road collisions is cited as human error. Whilst autonomous ‘driverless’ vehicles are still a thing of the future, we can still take advantage of the autonomous, active safety technology concepts they are being rolled out more quickly than self-driving vehicles.
Below, we explore some of the beneficial technologies found in most modern vehicles on the UK market. Whilst some come as standard, others can be optionally included in new vehicles. Additionally, safety tracking devices such as telematics can be added to report common trends and driver competencies to fleet managers, supporting the development of required training and changes to fleet policies.

Active Safety Systems
(You may also see these referred to as ADAS - Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)
- Adaptive Cruise Control
Using sensors, the system automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed to a safe following distance which remains within the speed limit. This is particularly useful on motorways. - Anti-lock Braking System
ABS can prevent your wheels from 'locking up' and skidding, particularly in slippery/icy conditions. Using sensors, ABS tracks driver behaviour and helps tyres maintain tractive contact with the road surface should a driver need to brake sharply at speed. - Automatic Emergency Braking
This system can detect a potential hazard and not only display a warning to the driver but automatically active the braking system too, avoiding a forward-facing collision. - Blind Spot Detection
Blind spot monitoring uses sensors to detect other vehicles to the driver's side and rear. In modern cars, warning lights are commonly visible on the drivers' wing mirror, but further warnings may sound or vibrate too, to alert the driver of potential hazards. - Driver Monitoring System
Using infrared sensors, this system assesses a driver's attentiveness and displays warning signals to prompt drivers to brake or even pull over for a break if they've been driving for a length of time. - Electronic Stability Control
Also known as Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), this system is activated when it is detected that a driver may have lost control of their vehicle or begins to skid. It does this by applying the ABS to one or multiple wheels to keep the vehicle moving in one direction. - Lane Departure Warning
A notification system that warns the driver when their vehicle begins to move out of its lane without any indicating signal. It is designed to prevent collisions caused by drifting due to human error such as drowsiness or other distractions. - Night Vision System
An automotive night vision system uses a thermographic camera to extend a driver's perception beyond the reach of a vehicle's headlights, to prevent accidents in darkness or poor weather conditions. - Road Sign Recognition
As the name suggests, traffic sign recognition alerts the driver to any enforced restrictions on the road. For example, a national speed limit sign may warn the driver they are speeding by displaying the correct limitation with audio. - Tyre-Pressure Monitoring System
TPMS monitor tyre pressure and notify the driver of any low pressure or tyre pressure imbalances on the vehicle should these reach an unsafe limit.
For further information please refer to our RoadSafety page.
Athlon are proud to partner with Brake, the UK’s biggest road safety charity as part of our commitment to safer roads. Should you or someone you know be affected following a collision, Brake are here to support.

Speak to an expert today
Are your fleet vehicles doing enough to protect your drivers? Could your drivers benefit from an automatic helping hand on the road?
Talk to an Athlon Business Development Manager today to discuss how your business can benefit from the latest vehicle technology, whether within your fleet or by offering employees a new car through our salary sacrifice scheme, SalaryExchange.
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