According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 40,000 people are killed annually on U.S. roads. In fact, automobile deaths are the number one cause of fatalities among children and young adults. To raise awareness of the issue with teens and their parents, DuPont is launching a nationwide auto safety tour called Get Real Behind the Wheel. Leveraging its scientific expertise and unmatched commitment to safety, DuPont currently makes more than 65 contributions to the world of auto safety. These include everything from the electronics that can help avoid collisions, materials that can mitigate injury in accidents and product technology that adds strength to increase the chances of survival in SUV rollovers.
Heads-Up – New system helps drivers keep their eyes on the road
At 60mph, in the time it takes to look at the speedometer, a car can travel 1/3 the length of a football field (33 yards), so taking your eyes off the road can be a very risky move (Edmunds.com). According to studies conducted by NHTSA, some form of driver distraction is a contributing factor in 20 to 30 percent of all crashes. Originally used to help military fighter jet pilots navigate their crafts without looking down at their gauges, Head-Up Display Systems (H.U.D.) are now being incorporated into cars to help drivers keep their eyes on the road – literally.
This technology is made possible by a thin inner layer of DuPont™ Butacite® PVB that projects, without distortion, important dashboard information such as speed and fuel gauges onto the windshield. The technology is called The Wedge™ and allows drivers to keep their heads up at all times, giving them increased reaction time to obstacles on the road.
Safety Inside and Out - Shatterproof glass can make driving safer and more secure
DuPont™ SentryGlas® ionoplast interlayer is revolutionizing automobile windows to keep drivers safe during accidents and deter theft. Used in laminated safety glass, the material is 100 times more rigid and five times stronger than the material in traditional auto glass. As a result, it stays intact during an accident, preventing occupants from being thrown through windows, where they have a 25 times greater chance of being killed (Insurance Information Institute). According to NHTSA, each year, nearly 8,000 people die as a result of being ejected through automobile glass and an additional 275,000 suffer lacerations from shards of flying, non-laminated car window glass.
Because of its strength, SentryGlas® can also be an effective deterrent to theft, which accounts for 1.5 billion dollars in stolen personal belongings and 7 billion dollars in automobile theft each year (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
Buckle Up – Safety belts save thousands of lives
Safety belts remain the most important safety equipment in an automobile and save almost 10,000 lives each year (Car-Accidents.com). Unfortunately, many drivers still do not buckle up. Nearly 40 percent of drivers never or only occasionally wear safety belts (Students Against Drunk Driving) even though wearing one can reduce the chance of serious or fatal injuries by 50 percent (NHTSA).
DuPont engineering plastics are critical to the retractor mechanism, belt flips and buckle fastener. DuPont materials also are used in a key component, the size of a pea, located in the shoulder of the safety belt that is essential in keeping the safety belt and driver secure.
Lifesaver of the Century – The science behind air bags
Air bags are quickly becoming just as important a safety asset in cars as seatbelts. In fact, air bags save more than 1,500 lives each year in the U.S. and help reduce the risk of serious/fatal injuries by more than 50 percent (NHTSA). Air bags deploy in one-third the time it takes to blink, so they’re extremely helpful in reducing injury during an accident.
DuPont is the leading supplier of air bag nylon fiber. Many air bags are made with DuPont™ Space Saver Nylon 6.6 fiber, which withstands high mechanical stress and extreme temperatures to enhance air bag reliability. DuPont™ Kevlar® brand fiber and DuPont™ Tyvek® protective material -- important products that help protect people in other areas of life -- are used to strengthen and protect air bags. DuPont™ Hytrel® elastomer is used in the deployment system for reliable performance.
Thanks in part to DuPont ingredients, air bags are getting small enough to be installed throughout the car, as evidenced by side curtain air bags. In fact, driver and front passenger air bags are required on cars. Side air bags are particularly important in helping reduce serious injury during SUV or other rollovers.
