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The smart car designers must have known that
the size of the smart would raise questions of safety. In the event
of an accident, how are occupants better protected beyond door
beams, seat belts and airbags?
Design a safety shell, like a walnut, and
make it very strong. This high-strength "Tridion" frame has the
ability to absorb tremendous impact, and although no automaker can
guarantee against injury, to date this is the single-most important
element of the smart.
Completed in April 2008, U.S. safety ratings
on the 2008 smart models provided an overall four-star rating out of
five. European ratings range from one star to four stars. U.S.
ratings range from one star to five stars.
The smart has ranked competitively with
similar-size and much larger cars. The following video is a graphic
example of how this car performs in a designed crash at 70 MPH into
a concrete barrier. You may be amazed by the result.
The smart features two collision boxes. The
one in front is reinforced with transverse members and slip tubes,
and the rear box features an aluminum support.
The car’s wheels also absorb impact and the
doors, which have integrated side-impact-resistant aluminum struts,
can still function after an accident.
There are standard full-size driver and
passenger airbags plus optional side airbags.
The belt guides are integrated into the
seats. In this way, the three-point seat belt system ensures optimum
seating comfort in all seating positions. Electronic tightening
devices, known as pretensioners, automatically tighten the seatbelts
in milliseconds to maintain both occupants snuggly in place.
The steering column has been designed to
retract telescopically upon impact, minimizing the likelihood of
injury.
When a collision occurs at up to 9 MPH, the
front crash box (which can be replaced easily) absorbs the energy of
impact to protect the Tridion frame. At faster speeds, the front
section and front wheels buckle in sequence.
Should another vehicle ram into the back of
your smart fortwo, the crisscross supports of Tridion shell defuse
crash energy. On impact, the rear-mounted engine will slide under
the passenger area into the style subfloor. The modular metal seats
absorb sudden movements.
Because cars are vulnerable along their
sides and the smart’s wheels are as close together as the width of
most car hoods, the wheels and axles will absorb crash energy in a
side-on collision.
The smart car's polycarbonate body panels
are dent and scratch resistant and show little to no damage after a
low-speed collision or parking lot mishap. At far lower cost than
traditional body work, the panels are easily replaced and they are
recyclable.
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