Examining the state-of-the-art in passenger car vehicle safety, the book features thorough discussion of the interrelationships among the occupant, the vehicle, and the restraint system (in frontal, lateral, and rear impacts and rollover).

Examines the state-of-the-art in passenger car vehicle safety. Looks at both active and passive safety systems. Describes basic relationships and new developments related to accident avoidance (including man/machine interface) and mitigation of injuries. In addition to detail on accident avoidance, occupant protection and biomechanics, the book features thorough discussion of the interrelationships among the occupant, the vehicle and the restraint system (in frontal, lateral, rear impacts and rollover). Other subjects covered include safety legislation, vehicle body and interior design, accident simulation tests, pedestrian protection and compatibility.

Even though a number of developed countries enjoy a high level of vehicle safety, more than 1.2 million fatalities still occur each year on roadways worldwide. There remains a need to continue improving vehicle and road safety. New technologies in sensors and electronic control units, and the growing knowledge of car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure technologies have led to a fusion of the previously separated areas of accident avoidance (popularly known as active safety) and mitigation of injuries (popularly known as passive safety) into the newer concept of integrated vehicle safety. This new approach represents a further step toward lowering accident rates. This book, written by two of the foremost automotive engineering safety experts, takes a unique and comprehensive approach to describing all areas of vehicle safety: accident avoidance, pre-crash, mitigation of injuries, and post-crash technologies, providing a solutions-based perspective of integrated vehicle safety. Also covered are accident investigation and worldwide legislation as they apply to integrated vehicle safety. The man-machine interface, biomechanics and development and simulation techniques are also key concepts that are thoroughly described. Special attention is given to driver assistance systems and to compatibility in car-to-car crashes and pedestrian protection. Chapters cover: accident research, functions of integrated safety, biomechanics and protection criteria, injury mitigation, adaptive occupant protection, compatibility, calculation and simulation, and the future. The book is useful for those interested in any aspect of automotive safety. Engineers and scientists from the automotive industry can learn new details as well as the broad perspective of vehicle safety today. The book also provides key information to traffic safety professionals, law enforcement, insurance practitioners, and journalists. Those who help shape traffic and vehicle legislation can gain a wider understanding of the topic to help them craft better laws. The book also serves as a valuable learning resource for academicians and students.

Automotive Vehicle Safety is a unique academic text, practical design guide and valuable reference book. It provides information that is essential for specialists to make better-informed decisions. The book identifies and discusses key generic safety principles and their applications and includes decision-making criteria, examples and remedies. It

Car Safety Wars is a gripping history of the hundred-year struggle to improve the safety of American automobiles and save lives on the highways. Described as the “equivalent of war” by the Supreme Court, the battle involved the automobile industry, unsung and long-forgotten safety heroes, at least six US Presidents, a reluctant Congress, new auto technologies, and, most of all, the mindset of the American public: would they demand and be willing to pay for safer cars? The “Car Safety Wars” were at first won by consumers and safety advocates. The major victory was the enactment in 1966 of a ground breaking federal safety law. The safety act was pushed through Congress over the bitter objections of car manufacturers by a major scandal involving General Motors, its private detectives, Ralph Nader, and a gutty cigar-chomping old politician. The act is a success story for government safety regulation. It has cut highway death and injury rates by over seventy percent in the years since its enactment, saving more than two million lives and billions of taxpayer dollars. But the car safety wars have never ended. GM has recently been charged with covering up deadly defects resulting in multiple ignition switch shut offs. Toyota has been fined for not reporting fatal unintended acceleration in many models. Honda and other companies have—for years—sold cars incorporating defective air bags. These current events, suggesting a failure of safety regulation, may serve to warn us that safety laws and agencies created with good intentions can be corrupted and strangled over time. This book suggests ways to avoid this result, but shows that safer cars and highways are a hard road to travel. We are only part of the way home.

When it’s time to wire your car, whether it’s a restoration project, race car, kit car, trailer, or street rod, don’t be intimidated; wire it yourself. Jim Horner shares his years of experience and cuts through the technical jargon to show you how. Learn about basic electrical theory, how various electrical components work and drawing circuit diagrams. Includes tips on using electrical test equipment and troubleshooting electrical circuits. Choose the right components, build your own wiring harness, and install them by following the step-by-step instructions. Profusely illustrated with over 350 photos, drawings, and diagrams. Suppliers list included.

Contains summaries of the knowledge regarding the effects of 128 road safety measures. This title covers various areas of road safety including: traffic control; vehicle inspection; driver training; publicity campaigns; police enforcement; and, general policy instruments. It also covers topics such as post-accident care, and speed cameras.

This fundamental work explains in detail systems for active safety and driver assistance, considering both their structure and their function. These include the well-known standard systems such as Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). But it includes also new systems for protecting collisions protection, for changing the lane, or for convenient parking. The book aims at giving a complete picture focusing on the entire system. First, it describes the components which are necessary for assistance systems, such as sensors, actuators, mechatronic subsystems, and control elements. Then, it explains key features for the user-friendly design of human-machine interfaces between driver and assistance system. Finally, important characteristic features of driver assistance systems for particular vehicles are presented: Systems for commercial vehicles and motorcycles.

Contains practical insights into automotive system safety with a focus on corporate safety organization and safety management Functional Safety has become important and mandated in the automotive industry by inclusion of ISO 26262 in OEM requirements to suppliers. This unique and practical guide is geared toward helping small and large automotive companies, and the managers and engineers in those companies, improve automotive system safety. Based on the author’s experience within the field, it is a useful tool for marketing, sales, and business development professionals to understand and converse knowledgeably with customers and prospects. Automotive System Safety: Critical Considerations for Engineering and Effective Management teaches readers how to incorporate automotive system safety efficiently into an organization. Chapters cover: Safety Expectations for Consumers, OEMs, and Tier 1 Suppliers; System Safety vs. Functional Safety; Safety Audits and Assessments; Safety Culture; and Lifecycle Safety. Sections on Determining Risk; Risk Reduction; and Safety of the Intended Function are also presented. In addition, the book discusses causes of safety recalls; how to use metrics as differentiators to win business; criteria for a successful safety organization; and more. Discusses Safety of the Intended Function (SOTIF), with a chapter about an emerging standard (SOTIF, ISO PAS 21448), which is for handling the development of autonomous vehicles Helps safety managers, engineers, directors, and marketing professionals improve their knowledge of the process of FS standards Aimed at helping automotive companies—big and small—and their employees improve system safety Covers auditing and the use of metrics Automotive System Safety: Critical Considerations for Engineering and Effective Management is an excellent book for anyone who oversees the safety and development of automobiles. It will also benefit those who sell and market vehicles to prospective customers.

This latest edition and successor to the well-known German language handbook last published by Professors Heinrich Buschmann and Paul Koessler is widely considered to be one of the most comprehensive encyclopedias of vehicle systems and design. Featuring more extensive coverage than other comparable publications, it contains: information on automotive design and applications, Over 40 subject matter experts focusing on specific automotive topics , Information on powertrains, electronics, vehicle safety and future materials, Extensive figures, drawings, illustrations and formulas.