What is a passive safety system?

A passive safety system is one that is designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision rather than preventing the collision from occurring in the first place. This includes features that become activated only during an incident, such as airbags and crumple zones, which help to absorb impact forces and minimize injury to passengers.

The key characteristic of a passive safety system is that it does not require any action from the driver or vehicle system for it to be effective; its role is strictly reactive, activating only in the event of an accident. This contrasts with active safety systems that aim to prevent accidents through various means such as braking assistance or stability control, which are designed to operate continuously during regular driving conditions.

Understanding the distinction between passive and active safety systems is crucial for anyone involved in emergency response or vehicle safety, as knowledge of how different systems work can influence both driving behavior and emergency response protocols.