It’s easy to see why buying a new car can be daunting for so many people. Sprinkled over the brochure are all sorts of gibberish and acronyms that add up to make an intimidating feature list.
They can be familiar to the car fanatic but easily alien to the average Joe.

Below are some commonly used safety terms and what they really mean and do.

For safety
Most of these terms are typically safety related. Next to the engine, most of a car’s chips and sensors are dedicated to preventing an accident. It’s good to know, and even better if you understand what they mean.

ABS
Many of you may already know that ABS means Anti-lock Brake System, yet the reason why this is so vital is often forgotten. In a panic situation, the first reaction is usually to step on the brake. The problem is stepping too hard can lock up the wheels, making the car feel like a sled on ice.

With ABS, sensors are placed on all wheels with disc brakes, checking the brake pressure and relieving it if there is too much. This allows the driver to brake as hard as desired, leaving the computer to keep the pressure just short of a lock up.

EBD
Electronic Brake-force Distribution is always found in tandem with ABS and never without it. It works with ABS to balance the pressure on the front and rear brakes. Most cars are front heavy, and when braking, the wheels with a light load require a less pressure to stop than the wheels with a heavy load. At the same time, the weight of a car shifts during braking, complicating it even more. Simply put, an EBD system can not only detect how much weight is being supported by each wheel, but change the amount of braking power sent to each wheel on an instant-by-instant basis.

Brake Assist
Yes, in tandem with ABS and EBD is yet another feature called Brake Assist (BA). To review, ABS stops the wheels from locking up and EBD sends the right pressure to the front and back. BA ensures enough brake pressure is sent to trigger both systems. After all, both ABS and EBD are designed to work when strong brake pressure is applied. Any less and it could make normal driving very uncomfortable. Several studies have shown that most drivers don’t apply enough brake pressure in the first place. BA determines if you pressed the pedal calmly or in panic. If it detects a panic stop, it boosts the pressure, activating both ABS and EBD so you can stop faster and more safely.

Stability Control
Stability Control is another system linked to ABS. Turning is often a simple operation, but when combined with speed and emergency braking, can turn dangerous in an instant. How well a car grips the road and turns depends heavily on the speed and steering angle. Too much of either can easily lead to an accident.

Stability Control continuously monitors where the vehicle is pointing, your steering angle and each individual wheel’s speed. It makes adjustments by independently applying the brake on individual wheels to make the turn at the safest possible speed and as close to the angle as intended. This keeps the car from spinning or sliding in a panic situation. Stability Control is also known by other names like Electronic Stability Control (ESP), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and the like. Regardless of the name, the purpose is still the same.

Traction Control
Traction Control systems also work with ABS but can be found with or without stability control. On high horsepower vehicles, it’s easy to step too heavily on the throttle can cause the wheel to spin in place, hence lose traction. Traction control monitors each wheel and its grip on the road surface.

When on, it applies the brake on any wheel spinning faster than it should. Some systems even reduce the throttle input to allow the tires to grip. The result is constant traction and more control in nearly any condition.

Like Stability Control, Traction Control can also be called Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Traction Control (ETC) or Dynamic Traction Control (DTC). The degree to which it limits wheel spin may vary but the default setting is always for the most traction.

SRS
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) comes into play in the event of an impact. SRS, more commonly known as Airbags, are called supplemental because seatbelts are still the first line of defense. Seatbelts keep you in the proper place to allow the airbags to slow down a passenger’s forward motion to minimize injuries during a crash.

Airbags have sensors located in the front corner of the vehicle. In a strong enough impact, it sends signals to the crash sensor module. This ignites nitrogen, expanding and filling the airbag in milliseconds.

Once inflated, it provides a soft cushion for the driver or passenger during a crash. It prevents occupants slamming onto the steering wheel or dashboard with deadly force.

Side airbags, curtain airbags and even knee airbags are simply variations of the same idea placed in different parts of the car. Side and curtain airbags help in the event of side impacts. Knee airbags, in turn, prevent leg injuries.

With all these safety terms now explained, perusing through that brochure will no doubt be less of a mystery. Fortunately, the more of these terms and acronyms you see on the car, the safer it is likely to be.