Road accidents can be prevented if the driver anticipates the danger

 

Road accidents can be prevented if the driver anticipates the danger. It’s important for the driver’s awareness and perception to be optimised.

 

For example drivers are made aware of certain limits with visual and audible reminders and warnings, such as driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt reminder.

Good visibility is a vital safety factor. The sooner a driver notices a hazard the sooner they can take action. Good lights, mirrors and windscreen wipers are vital. The Chevrolet Captiva has front fog lights on the LT and LTX models.

Being comfortably seated in a suitable driving position helps drivers reduce tiredness and react faster. An adjustable rake and reach steering wheel and seats  – 8 ways on a Captiva – are important as is air conditioning. Air con is standard on the Captiva with ECC on the LTX.

A salesperson is unlikely to talk about a car’s equipment in terms of awareness and perception and their importance in accident prevention.

 Much of a car’s equipment is sometimes dismissed as toys or associated with comfort. Try thinking of them as increasing your awareness.  When we drive we focus and ignore irrelevant cues. This means any distraction can only subtract from the relevant cues in use. For example winding manual windows is a distraction minimised by being electric and automatic. Here’s a few others: anti-dazzle rear view mirrors, heated door mirrors, automatic lighting control, rain sensitive windscreen wipers, even handy storage spaces making things easily accessible.

They all minimise distraction and help you keep focused on the road ahead.

 

Regards
Ralph Spence

How to avoid a car accident

 

Road holding and braking are vital for active safety and accident avoidance.

Chevrolet use leading edge electronic correction systems in the new Chevrolet Captiva to improve both braking and road holding.

You may have heard of ABS. Have you heard of ESP?

As salespeople, those selling cars have an easy job because most customers know what car features can do for them. If a car salesperson says a vehicle has power steering, electric windows or central locking, the customer knows the benefits to them. That’s why car salesmen tell buyers about the features a car has and don’t explain the benefits to them. When a salesman says the vehicle they’re selling has ABS, the customer responds positively and the salesperson needs go no further. The question is do car buyers know what ABS and ESP do and how they can help them avoid accidents?

It’s unfortunate that research shows some car buyers dismiss car safety features as sales gimmicks.

Research also reveals ABS and ESP are only understood by a minority of motorists.

Most websites don’t attempt to solve this problem. They simply list features thinking you’ll know how you’ll benefit. Below I attempt to explain.

 Regards
Ralph Spence

ABS – anti-lock braking system – explained.

 

ABS is not unique to the Chevrolet Captiva. I’m given to understand all car manufacturers – bar one – agreed to make ABS a standard fitting when sold in Europe as of January 2006. So beware of grey imports.

 

ABS (anti-lock braking system) stops your car’s wheels from locking, even when emergency braking. This means you can keep control of your Captiva’s course because steering and cornering stability is maintained.

If a wheel is about to lock under heavy braking, the ABS system reduces braking pressure on that wheel alone until the threat of locking is past. Once the wheel is again turning freely, pressure is again increased. This increase and release of pressure continues until the driver reduces the force on the brake pedal or until the tendency to lock is overcome. EBD (electronic brake distribution), is an additional function fitted within ABS which adjusts forces between the front and rear wheels.

In a 2005 survey only 18% of British drivers identified ABS as an active safety system.
70% had been involved in an emergency braking situation.
38% had been in a skid.
50% didn’t know what ABS does. 

Regards
Ralph Spence
What ABS does

 

Has car driver’s safety education accelerated to the point they understand these points?

 

When you watch the ad for the new Chevrolet Captiva, ‘ESP’ flashes on screen.

 

What does ESP mean? What does it do? How does it do it? Why is it important?

Back in 2005 NCAP commissioned MORI to survey European car buyer’s preferences. They found only 1% of car buyers were aware of ESP. How is it Chevrolet assume UK car buyers know what ESP is about?

It’s a standard feature of the new Chevrolet Captiva LT and LTX trim levels. But do buyers know what they’re getting for their money and how it guards their life.

Let’s look at life-threatening manoeuvres when a potential accident looms with and without ESP.

A vehicle without ESP:

A vehicle approaches an obstacle threatening a potential accident. Evasive steering means the vehicle goes off course and enters the oncoming traffic lane and the driver loses control. Counter steering causes the vehicle to go into a skid – it rotates.

 

The new Chevrolet Captiva with ESP:

You approach an obstacle. Your Captiva threatens to break away. ESP intervenes and restores full steering. Counter steering again results in the threat of a renewed breakaway. ESP intervenes again and your Chevy is stabilized.

ESP supports you in nearly all critical driving situations. It detects when your Chevy is skidding in an instant and actively counteracts it. ESP goes beyond ABS and traction control systems (TCM). Sensors read your Chevy’s desired steering direction, your rotary movement and lateral accelerations.

This data is read by the control unit, which calculates the movement of your Captiva, comparing it multiple times per second with your desired direction. If the values do not match, ESP reacts in an instant without any action on your part. It reduces engine power and brakes individual wheels. Skidding is counteracted and your Captiva remains safe on its desired course.

This type of system was first developed in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz in their 95 S-class. The system has since been revised

Don’t be confused by manufacturers trying to differentiate themselves with different names for what is the same system. They may call it DSC, PSM, VSA or VSC. It’s ESP.

Components of ESP are:

• Engine management ECU for communication.

• ESP-Hydraulic unit with integrated ECU.

• Steering angle sensor.

• Wheel speed sensor.

• Yaw rate sensor with integrated acceleration sensor.

ESP’s life saving potential of has been confirmed by many car manufacturers’ studies:

• American studies predict a 67% reduction in single SUV accidents when they are fitted with ESP.

• Daimler-Chrysler reports a 42% reduction in accidents since their introducing ESP as standard on Mercedes-Benz in 1999.

• Toyota found ESP could reduce driving accidents by 50%.

• VW think ESP could reduce fatal accidents by 35%.

• German studies show 25% of all injuries are due to skidding.

• 60% of fatal accidents are due to side impacts caused by skidding.

ESP works both in the event of over steer or under steer, and when avoiding obstacles.

It’s standard on the new Chevrolet Captiva LT and LTX models.

 Regards
Ralph Spence

 

How being big and strong doesn’t mean you’re safe

Let’s take a look at the new Chevrolet Captiva’s car safety from the aspect of crash protection. 

Most SUV drivers are mistaken in thinking their truck-like vehicles are safe because they’re big and strong. Some are so big the concentration needed to drive them distracts from the driver’s awareness and anticipation of potential accidents. Also a heavy vehicle with a high centre of gravity, high profile tyres and long travel suspension make it difficult to handle, steer and brake when trying to avoid being in an accident. The mid-sized  Captiva solves  these problems with car-like construction and components plus ESP. 

The biggest mistake is thinking a SUV’s size and chassis strength protects the driver and occupants in the event of an accident. The problem is an old style ladder frame chassis does not provide front crumple zone protection. This type of chassis offers no or little side impact protection and no whole rear protection.  

Crash a body-on-ladder frame chassis into a unit body chassis in a head-on front corner on corner collision and tests prove the unibody driver will come off best.  

The new Chevrolet Captiva uses unibody construction methods. Its unit body construction in-part defines the Captiva as a ‘crossover’ SUV. It has a modern car-like construction, which is safer than the old truck like construction. In the new Chevrolet Captiva you’re protected by a front crumple zone, side impact protection and whole rear protection. 

Plus in the Captiva you’re protected by restraining seat belts, head rests, airbags and child seat anchorage you associate with car safety protection. This incidentally can elsewhere be of little use in an old style body-on-chassis construction. 

Not the happiest of articles but the new Chevrolet Captive should cheer-up SUV drivers. 

Regards
Ralph Spence

The all-new Chevrolet Captiva in summary.

As the Captiva is a new model I thought I’d start this blog by building a product guide. 

This Chevy SUV is just the right size for UK roads. It’s a sensible family car. Bigger than smaller compact SUVs, they may be more for couples. The new Chevrolet Captiva is a crossover mid-size SUV which can give as much space and versatility as some large SUVs which are too big for UK roads and our parking spaces.  

I like the Chevrolet Captiva’s lifestyle looks. It’s friendlier than the utility, wannabe a Hummer look. Although I equally like the slab-sided look.   

It’s also a good thing the Captiva’s a Chevrolet, the most experienced and largest sellers of SUVs. 

Inside the Chevrolet Captiva the driver enjoys an elevated view of the road with ergonomics similar to the proven Vauxhall Zafira. Passengers have plenty of room and the comfort of adult sized seats.  There’s also the choice of seven-seat versatility or a large load space.  

The Captiva’s handling is car-like as the centre of gravity, tyres, and suspension isn’t too tall. Front wheel drive makes the Captiva easier to handle on slippery surfaces. On demand four-wheel drive is fitted to all but one model. Overall the Chevrolet Captiva feels more stable and responsive on the road than large truck based SUVs. 

The new Chevrolet is also far more economical than large truck based SUVs, because of its car-like construction, transmission systems and road tyres. 

Best of all, the Chevrolet is great value for money. 

The new Chevrolet Captiva’s also safe with car-like unibody construction giving you front crumple zones, side protection and whole rear protection. That’s if an accident is not prevented by ABS and ESP systems. 

Certainly the Chevrolet Captiva is worth seeing and trying IF you are interested in a big versatile family vehicle with plenty of space but with car like driving, economy and safety. 

I will be posting the following:

1)       Dimensions and weight – compared to other classes
2)       Versatility
3)       Luggage or load space.
4)       Exterior style and trim options.
5)       What do people see in these cars – what does it stand for
6)       Interior appearance – trim level options and equipment
7)       Passenger comfort.
       Driver comfort.
9)       Driving – performance – engine and gearbox options and figures
10)    Driving – steering and suspension.
11)    Take a DIM view of costs
12)    Car depreciation.
13)    Opportunity cost
14)    Running costs – maintenance, insurance, rfl and fuel.
15)    Safety – education
16)    Safety – awareness
17)    Safety – accident prevention
18)    Safety – ABS
19)    Safety – ESP
20)    How being big and strong doesn’t mean you’re safe – safety – crash protection.

 

Regards

Ralph Spence

Chevrolet Captiva Comparisons