There are several important safety standards for automobiles today. The most obvious one is the seat belt requirement, which attaches to the lap and shoulder and reduces the risk of fatality or serious injury by 64 percent. Front-seat occupants are also required to wear a passive restraint system, such as air bags. These bags pop out and form a cushion in a crash, greatly reducing the risk of motor vehicle fatalities and injuries.
Auto industry
In the early days of the automobile industry, dozens of small companies competed to create a standard product. The first movers established market dominance and are still the most popular brands today. However, the competition has been increasing, and the industry’s competitors have developed market strategies based on their rivals. In 1909, over 500 firms were in operation, and Ford fell to second place following the year-long Model T-to-Model A transition.
Safety standards
While the average car is safer than the cars of decades ago, fatality rates have been trending downward for a few years. In fact, many of the older cars would not even meet today’s standards, such as top-heavy designs and gas tanks that were prone to puncture. Automobiles also tend to be too small and under-engineered for proper protection of passengers. Fortunately, the new Traffic Safety Act lends a hand to a number of different traffic safety forces. These forces include the government, automobile manufacturers, state and local governments, and many safety councils and private groups, among others. But it is the individual motorist who is ultimately responsible for making his or her vehicle safe for drivers and passengers.
2WD vehicles
Rear-wheel drive, or 2WD, is a common type of vehicle. They are most often found in pickup trucks, truck-based SUVs, and high-performance sedans. This configuration allows for the use of heavy-duty components in order to improve traction while towing a heavy load. However, they are not as competent on slippery surfaces as 2WD vehicles. Therefore, rear-wheel drive is not recommended for driving in wet or slippery conditions.
4×2 vehicles
The drivetrain of a 4×2 vehicle includes the driveshaft, differentials, axle shafts, and other components. This system allows the car to move forward, and the power generated from combustion is sent to the rear wheels. The other type of drivetrain is front-wheel drive, with the engine powering only the front wheels. It is smaller than a 4×2, and uses less fuel, which means a lower carbon footprint. In addition to this, front-wheel drive vehicles also have better traction on snowy roads. However, they’re less fun to drive.
Brakes
There are several ways a car’s brakes work. The master cylinder pushes fluid up a pipe and into the slave cylinders on the wheels. These slave cylinders force the pistons out to apply the brakes. This pressure is distributed throughout the system because the combined surface area of the slave pistons and master cylinder piston is greater than that of the master cylinder piston. The master cylinder piston moves the slave pistons by a few inches or fractions of an inch. However, the brakes exert tremendous force when applied.
Suspension system
The most basic car suspension system comprises a pneumatic stabilization system composed of an equal number of air-filled suspension bellows suspended from the body of the vehicle. Each bellow section is mechanically connected to its corresponding suspension bellow by means of a movable common plate. The bellows are mechanically connected to each other through conduit means, and the spring means connect the bellow sections to the common plate in axial direction. These spring means are arranged in a separate box.
Transmission
A transmission in an automobile is an important piece of a car’s mechanism. Engines are designed to provide maximum power and torque outputs within a range of engine speeds, called the redline. Each engine also has a maximum torque and horsepower output, and a transmission transforms this output into the correct power and torque to propel the vehicle forward. This is critical because car dynamics depend on speed, and the speed of a car’s engine is limited by the inertia of its gross mass. Wind resistance also limits the speed at which a car can cruise.