Car Safety

Sometimes, the finest of automobiles can't escape a pesky recall. In this case, it's the Bentley Mulsanne, which has been recalled over rear seat safety belt buckles that may detach. Apparently, the rear seat buckles may totally detach from the seat in the event of a crash, which is a mighty ironic...

Beginning with 2021 model-year vehicles, Volvo will impose an electronic speed limiter of 112 mph on all its vehicles. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Volvo announced the decision on Monday, and Motor Authority reached out to Volvo spin-off Polestar to learn if the decision will also apply to the...

Tablet-like touchscreens have become the ubiquitous interfaces of choice, and they’re seemingly everywhere in daily life, on everything from thermostats to coffee makers and refrigerators. But Mazda really doesn’t think they belong in cars—or at least anywhere near the...

One of the main developers and co-creator of the Head And Neck Safety (HANS) device, Dr. Robert Hubbard, passed away Tuesday after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 75 years old. Hubbard's work to create the HANS revolutionized motorsports safety, and today, a HANS is the global...

Mercedes-Benz believes it can build a car capable of avoiding crashes, and it plans to show its vision with a new concept vehicle this year. Australian website Motoring reported Sunday Mercedes-Benz global research and development head, Ola Kalennius, thinks an uncrashable car will come sooner than...

Future de-icing vehicles could use data and lidar to help ensure better city coverage and safer roads. The city of Knoxville, Tennessee, will put the technology to the test this winter with one specially equipped de-icing truck. Digital Trends reported on the technology last week, which was...

The 2019 Audi e-tron will skip out on one piece of technology when it arrives in the United States, hence our asterisk in the title. U.S.-spec e-trons will not receive the futuristic camera-as-mirror technology. Thank outdated regulations for that. Instead, we'll receive standard side mirrors...

Volkswagen's 2015 diesel emissions scandal isn't entirely in its rearview mirror yet, and now another scandal threatens the automaker. VW confirmed this week that it sold thousands of pre-production Volkswagen vehicles as used cars, which did not meet regulations in the United States and Europe...

German supplier ZF has developed external crash safety airbags for cars that could make their way to production in as little as two years. The company showed off an external airbag system at the recent Airbag 2018 Symposium in Germany. The system is quite similar to current technology used for...

A small number of Lamborghini Gallardo models will need to return to dealerships after the Italian firm issued a recall for the supercar. In documents filed with the NHTSA in late November and published this week, Lamborghini said 1,152 Gallardo models suffer from faulty dashboard warning lights...

It will require years of research and technology implementation before self-driving cars are a common sight. Until then, some automakers aren't only working on the tech itself, but also developing ways for self-driving cars to communicate with pedestrians. Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler showed off...

It stands for Head and Neck Support, and the HANS device is a vital piece of safety gear every race car driver should be using. The Motorsport Safety Foundation has put together a video showing exactly why you need to be wearing a HANS device when you're out on the racetrack. A fire suit-wearing...

From texting to drunk driving, some folks don't understand that driving is a privilege and not a right. Keep your eyes on the road and stay safe, because if you don't you might run a red light. This is what that could look like. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has put together a...

Faulty floor mats have prompted Jeep to recall a number of 2018 Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk models. In total, the recall affects 4,822 units. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles filed documents for the recall with NHTSA in late October. According to the agency, the driver's floor mat may not provide...

Cars are safer than ever. There are whole hosts of systems onboard with the goal of keeping drivers and passengers safe. This tech is great at keeping you out of harms way, but it might come back and bite you should any of it need repairing. According to AAA, all of the safety tech in our newest...

Companies in the self-driving car space have been clamoring for a loosening of road rules originally designed for cars with human drivers, which the companies say are impeding the development of the technology—the main one being the requirement for a human onboard at all times. Regulators are...

Even the pinnacle of luxury can fall victim to recalls. In this case, it's Bentley's range-topping Mulsanne sedan. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration recieved notice on September 14 that Bentley will recall 10 vehicles over a rearview camera defect. According to NHTSA and the...

Everyone likes to find ways to save money. With respect to your car, there are times when you can opt for lower octane fuel, more affordable oil, and non-OEM parts. But should you skimp when it comes to buying tires? Recently, Engineering Explained looked at the performance variation as your tires...

The turn signal is one of the most essential passive safety measures onboard every single new car. Yet, millions of drivers choose to ignore the ability, and let's face it, the decision puts other drivers at risk. Tesla appears ready to flick the indicators whether a driver likes it or not. The...

Ford has promised to deliver a self-driving car by 2021. The automaker is targeting Level 4 self-driving capability, meaning the car will drive on its own but be limited on where it can go and in which whether conditions it can handle. A more capable Level 5 car that can completely replace a human...