Smart brakes and more: features to consider.(Front Lines - Autos)(Auto Safety)

Although advanced safety features are now widely available, many buyers who don't know what to look for or who are unfamiliar with their advantages may miss out. The table on page 68 lists safety equipment available on specific models. Here's a rundown of each feature's strengths:

Safety-belt features. Pretensioners retract the belts during a head-on crash, removing slack and helping to hold a person in the seat. Force limiters, found on many vehicles with pretensioners, relax the belt tension slightly following the initial impact, to reduce pressure on the chest.

Front air bags. In recent years, automakers have redesigned their air-bag systems to minimize the risk of harm by reducing their deployment force and developing new control systems. The latest development is dual-stage deployment. In a low-speed collision, the bags inflate with 70 to 80 percent of the force of a single-stage air bag. In a higher-speed collision, they inflate with full force. Some luxury models also offer passenger-seat sensing systems that, depending on the model, can deactivate the passenger air bag if either a small person or no one is in the seat. Almost all two-seat cars have a switch to deactivate the passenger air bag when carrying children.

Side air bags. Front side air bags are becoming more common and affordable, and some automakers are now offering rear side bags, as well. The latest development: greater use of curtain-type side bags, which help prevent occupants from hitting their heads on the side windows or roof pillars. This fall, the 2002 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer will offer an optional rollover-detection system, which will automatically deploy side curtain air bags if the system detects that the vehicle is tipping.

Antilock brake system. Antilock brakes can help a vehicle stop shorter, although their key advantages involve keeping the vehicle straight, even when braking in rain, snow, or ice, and allowing the driver to retain steering control while braking.

Traction control. This limits wheel spin during acceleration. It's particularly useful when starting from a standstill in wet or ...