Car accidents are a leading cause of death and personal injury in the United States. Fortunately, as science and technology has evolved, more safety features have been introduced to help drivers stay safe on the road. One of those features is traction control. Most people may have heard of it but probably do not know exactly what it is or how it helps drivers. The following is some helpful information about this safety feature and how it protects drivers and passengers.
What is Traction Control?
Traction control is what is known as an active safety feature. It is helpful to understand the difference between an active and passive safety feature. Active safety features are intended to prevent collisions and accidents from happening in the first place. Passive safety features, on the other hand, are designed to limit the amount of damage in the event of a collision. An example of a passive safety feature would be an airbag. Active safety features such as traction control and anti-lock braking are preventative. Traction control helps to maintain traction between the tires and the road even in slippery or wet conditions. This safety feature works by limiting how much the car’s wheels can spin in certain conditions. This helps to stay connected to the driving surface and avoid going off the road.
Traction control has been a standard safety feature on all new cars sold in the United States since 2012. Typically, this is not an automatic process on most vehicles and needs to be turned on or off. In some instances, it may need to be turned off, but in general, it is recommended to leave it on when possible.
How Does Traction Control Work?
Traction control sounds a lot more complicated than it is. Although it is a simple system, it is a very important one. It involves active sensors in each of the car’s four tires. These are called yaw sensors. These sensors monitor the speed and movement of the tires and the speed of the vehicle. The danger comes in when any one of the four tires spins faster than what speed the car is going. This causes the tire to lose traction and go into a skid or possibly hydroplane. The traction control sensors adjust for this to maintain traction and keep the car on the road.
South Jersey Car Accident Lawyers at the D’Amato Law Firm Represent Clients Injured in Car Accidents When Their Vehicle Loses Traction
If you were injured in any kind of car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other losses that you sustained. Going off the road in slippery road conditions can lead to serious injury as well as mental trauma. The knowledgeable South Jersey car accident lawyers at the D’Amato Law Firm have the resources to help you understand what options are available to recover damages after your accident. We will fight for you to recover the compensation that you deserve. Call us today at 609-926-3300 or contact us online for a free consultation. With an office in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, we assist accident victims in Atlantic City, Linwood, Galloway Township, Cape May, Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Ocean City, Woodbury, and across South Jersey.