KNOWING THE SAFETY SYSTEMS
MODERN CARS COME WITH MIND-BOGGLING techno wizardry. Safety aids like airbags and ABS are standard and many Hyundai cars even offer classleading safety systems like electronic stability control and traction control. With every new generation and every facelift, Hyundai cars have become better and safer, providing much-needed assurance, especially under low grip situations. Let’s understand how some key safety features work.
ABS
Under hard braking on slippery roads, cars without an anti-lock braking system tend to lock their wheels up. If the wheels are locked, you cannot steer the car and are no longer in control, leading you to potentially ram into the obstacle. ABS uses sophisticated components like speed sensors and brake control modules that prevent the wheels from locking up, making the car come to a halt in a progressive manner. This provides muchneeded manoeuvrability under tricky situations. All Hyundai cars come with ABS as standard, right from entry-level offerings like the Santro to flagship SUVs like the Tucson.
All-wheel drive
Neither of the two cars we drove out of town had allwheel drive, but Hyundai’s flagship SUV in India, the Tucson gets a permanent all-wheel-drive system. AWD is a prerequisite during off-roading, but the system can come to your rescue on the road too, especially in low grip situations. AWD systems use onboard sensors to distribute torque across all four wheels. If any tyre loses traction, the tyres that have grip pull the car forward.
Traction control
Traction control ensures that extra torque doesn’t overwhelm the tyres with wheelspin. Powerful Hyundai cars, like the Tucson, get TC. This system uses onboard sensors to detect if one wheel is spinning faster than the others. When additional wheelspin is detected, TC cuts engine power to these wheels, allowing them to find traction. But due to lack of lateral acceleration sensors, TC’s functioning is restricted to a straight line, and that’s when ESC comes off as a more complete solution.
Electronic stability control
ESC alters the vehicle’s braking to individual wheels in split seconds for better control during evasive manoeuvres. For instance, when you enter a corner too fast and any of the wheels lose traction, ESC detects the loss of grip within a fraction of a second, momentarily braking the wheels without grip to restore control. The system uses a more extensive set of sensors that detect steering angle, lateral acceleration and yaw rate. All of Hyundai’s premium cars like the Creta, Verna, Venue and Elantra get this cutting-edge electronic aid.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW DRIVING BEHIND A rain splattered windshield doesn’t have to be a nervewracking experience, your next step should be to ensure that you don’t ignore regular driving etiquette, always wearing a seat belt and following traffic rules. And once you’re fully prepped, you will realise that relishing the joys of the monsoon doesn't have to be from the comfort of your balcony only. You can head out, enjoy a picturesque drive and soak in all the tranquility that nature has to offer, through this magical season. ⌧