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Best car safety features and systems in modern cars
Modern cars are increasingly available with safety features that help avoid crashes, protect occupants and even respond to emergencies. Here’s what to look for when buying a safer car.
Whether you’re upgrading your current vehicle or buying your first, choosing a car that’s not just comfortable and reliable but as safe as possible can reduce crash risks and provide better protection and support if a crash occurs.
Modern cars typically have more advanced safety technology than older models, but even among newer vehicles some of the most important systems are not fitted standard – or even available at all.
RACV Head of Policy James Williams says advanced systems like adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition can improve safety, but warns they should not be over-relied upon by drivers.
“The systems may have limitations like sensor blind spots, inconsistent performance and the potential to create a false sense of security, so drivers must always stay alert and in control. The legal onus for safe driving is always on the motorist, so there’s no excuse for speeding.”
If you're looking for a safer car, carmakers often use different names to describe the same feature, so here’s a guide to the best car safety features and systems that are worth considering when buying your next new or used car.
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Best and most important car safety features
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is designed to help prevent or reduce the severity of a crash by automatically applying the brakes if the car detects an imminent collision. This applies both when the car is travelling forward and reversing.
AEB capable of detecting collisions with other vehicels at speeds between 10-60km/h became mandatory on all new cars sold in Australia from March 2025. Systems also capable of detecting collisions with vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists, for example) must be installed on all new cars from August 2026.
The functionality of AEB often varies according to each manufacturer and specific models. Some entry-level models might only work at lower speeds, such as less than 30km/h, while others have higher-speed capability (over 80km/h, for example) and better object recognition. Elsewhere, advanced AEB systems may adjust braking pressure dynamically based on road conditions, such as wet or icy surfaces, to ensure optimal performance.
Safety authorities recommend buyers look for cars with AEB that operates in forward and reverse and at high and low speeds, and which can also detect vulnerable road users.
Reversing Cameras and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Reversing camera technology improves visibility behind a vehicle when backing out. Complementary systems such as rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), reverse collision avoidance (RCA) or reverse collision warning (RCW) can also warn drivers if a collision is imminent. Two important reversing technologies to look out for are:
- Reversing cameras – a camera (or cameras) combine with an in-car display to show the driver what’s behind their vehicle when in reverse. Some include helpful reversing guidelines while higher-end systems have a 360-degree view for better visibility around the vehicle.
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) – uses camera and/or sensors combined with an auditory alarm (or similar) to alert the driver when another car, cyclist, pedestrian etc crosses their vehicle’s path as they reverse. This often works in conjunction with AEB to automatically brake the car to avoid a collision.
All new vehicles sold in Australia, including cars, SUVs, utes and trucks, will be required to have reversing technologies – including cameras and motion sensors – fitted standard from November 2025. Manufacturers will be required to upgrade new models currently on the market from November 2027.
If your car does not have a reversing camera, it may be possible to retrofit a camera system. Your car dealer or manufacturer, as well as aftermarket camera retailers, should be able to advise on compatibility.
More: How to safely reverse your car and tips for reverse parking
Subaru’s driver assist technology, as shown here on the Forester SUV, includes cameras and sensors that monitor the front, side and rear of the car, including blind spots.
Lane Keeping Systems (LKS)
Lane keeping systems (LKS) are designed to help prevent drivers from veering out of their lane. They are not designed to operate if the indicators are on and the driver is making an intentional lane change. Common lane keeping systems include:
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW) – cameras monitor lane markings and warn the driver if the vehicle is drifting out of its lane. These warnings might be a sound, visual display or vibration. The driver is responsible for taking action and steering the car safely back into the lane.
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA) – this takes LDW a step further: if the driver doesn’t act when the lane departure warning is given, the lane keep assist system will take over steering to guide the vehicle back into its lane.
Some lane keeping technologies struggle to function when there are no lane markings and in difficult road conditions such as heavy rain or snow. LKA systems should work gently, but some are not as well calibrated as others and the response can sometimes be surprisingly forceful. Lane departure warnings can also be made unexpectedly. These situations can prompt drivers to turn these systems off, which is not recommended.
Buyers are strongly encouraged to look for the technology but test drive car/s before purchasing to see for themselves how diferent lane keeping systems work. Independent car reviews can also shed light on how well LDW and LKA operate on a particular model.
Lane keeping systems will become mandatory on all new passenger cars and SUVs sold in Australia from March 2026.
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Blind spot monitoring (BMS), also called blind spot warning (BSW), uses sensors and sometimes cameras to detect other vehicles that can’t be easily seen when they are next to, or just behind, your vehicle – that is, in your blind spots.
This safety feature usually provides a visual warning via a light in the driver’s exterior side mirror, with some systems adding audible and tactile warnings such as an alarm sound and steering wheel vibration respectively. At the higher end, ‘active’ blind spot systems can intervene to avoid a possible collision. When comparing different vehicles, the more advanced systems are preferred over a basic visual warning.
The SOS button in the Hyundai Palisade SUV allows car occupants involved in a crash to speak to a specialist operator at an emergency call centre.
Emergency Call System (eCall)
An increasing number of cars sold in Australia have an accident emergency call system (eCall) built into the vehicle that automatically makes an emergency call to a specialist control centre if the car is involved in a serious collision, even if the occupants are trapped or unconscious.
In most cases, a strictly defined set of data such as the car’s precise location, direction of travel, number of occupants (via the seatbelts in use), make/model and registration/VIN numbers will also be sent to the call centre, where trained staff will offer immediate assistance. They can talk to occupants in the car and will send for emergency service responders if needed.
Many cars also have an SOS button, usually located on the overhead console in between the driver and front passenger. This allows occupants in the vehicle (or even someone who is first on the scene of a crash) to contact the emergency call centre and speak to a specialist operator for help.
Popular brands like Toyota and Hyundai offer eCall on select models in partnership with RACV-owned Intelematics, but there are no laws mandating its fitment to new vehicles in Australia. (It’s mandatory in Europe.)
More: What is eCall and how crash detection technology can save lives
Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
Many modern vehicles now feature rear occupant alert (ROA) or child presence detection (CPD) systems that are designed to prevent children and pets being left unattended in cars.
Basic ROA systems can monitor door opening and closing data and, when the car is turned off, will ask the driver to ‘check the rear seats’ via a warning message on the instrument panel. More advanced systems use sensors to detect movement in the rear seat area and, if the doors are locked, will alert the driver with an urgent warning, such as sounding the horn or flashing the hazard lights.
Some cars, such as the BYD Dolphin and BYD Sealion 6, can detect breathing as well as movement and will automatically activate the air conditioning if the car is locked, in addition to raising the alarm.
The Nissan Qashqai e-Power monitors driving patterns and steering behaviour for signs of inattention or drowsiness and will prompt the driver to take a break if required.
Driver Attention Monitoring (DAM)
Sometimes described as driver distraction warning, fatigue (or drowsiness) detection or similar, driver attention monitoring (DAM) typically uses a combination of cameras and sensors to monitor the driver’s steering wheel input and eye movement, among other things.
The system will alert the driver when signs of fatigue or distraction are detected, providing visual alerts in the instrument panel, audible warnings and/or tactile measures such as steering wheel vibration. The length of time driving without taking a break is also commonly monitored, with an alert given after a set period that encourages the driver to take a break.
As with other modern safety features, the more sophisticated versions of DAM are recommended, but some can be highly sensitive – sounding a warning with only a minor glace away from the road, for example – so buyers are encouraged to test drive different car models before purchasing.
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has also studied fatigue detection technologies and published a useful guide on different systems available and their effectiveness.
Active Cruise Control (ACC)
Active cruise control (ACC), or adaptive cruise control as it’s also known, is a more advanced cruise control system that’s designed to keep a safe following distance from the vehicle in front by automatically adjusting your car’s speed. ACC typically has at least three presets that allow the driver to adjust the distance.
Some versions of ACC can bring the car to a complete stop in traffic (sometimes referred to as stop-and-go) and continue to follow at a set distance when traffic moves on.
Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
Many modern vehicles now include traffic or speed sign recognition, which will display the current speed limit and sound an alarm or provide a visual warning if the camera system detects that the limit has been exceeded.
Sophisticated versions will automatically slow the vehicle down and reset the cruise control to the new limit. Other TSR systems are clever enough to detect temporary speed limits, such as school zones and roadworks.
Some cars might claim to have speed limit recognition, though only relying on preset satellite navigation mapping. These do not provide real-time monitoring of traffic signs via onboard cameras, so are less reliable.
The dash screen on the Mercedes-Benz E200 provides easy access to settings for the head-up display, ESP and driver assist systems for parking, lane keeping and steering.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC), also commonly referred to as electronic stability program (ESP), uses sensors to monitor direction of travel and steering wheel position. It can stabilise the car when a loss of traction is detected by automatically braking individual wheels and cutting engine power. On many cars it works in parallel with other electronic handling systems, such as traction control.
ESC became mandatory on all new cars sold in Australia from November 2013 and all light commercial vehicles from November 2017. If you’re buying second hand, ESC is highly recommended.
Other important car safety features
Safety features in cars are constantly improving as new technologies become available. There’s a variety of other systems that are increasingly common and come highly recommended by motor vehicle and road safety authorities to help prevent, or reduce the severity, of a crash. These include:
- Head-Up Display (HUD) – shows information such as speed, speed limit and navigation directions within the driver’s line of sight on the windscreen, reducing the need to take eyes off the road and look down at the instruments, for example.
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – monitors your tyre pressure in real time and alerts you if levels are unsafe.
- Automatic High Beam and Matrix LED Headlights – automatic headlights switch between high and low beam based on the oncoming traffic; matrix LED headlights have shaped beams that provide maximum road visibility without dazzling others.
- Side and curtain airbags – most cars have frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger, which are vital in the event of a crash, but cars with side airbags front and rear and head-protecting curtain airbags that extend along the each row of the vehicle offer greater protection.
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) – controls the braking force to prevent tyres from skidding when the brakes are applied on slippery surfaces; not the newest system here (it became mandatory on new cars in 2003) but the technology has continued to improve over the years.
Our list of the best car safety features and systems in modern cars make up an important component of a vehicle’s overall safety standing, which considers other factors such as the vehicle structure. For full ratings on individual cars – including new and older models – see the ANCAP website and the Victorian TAC’s How Safe is Your Car website.
