The 'I've got a safe car' trap

So maybe you'll die in comfort!

Most vehicles, especially at the top of the range, have design capabilities far in excess of the average driver's skill, however, this does not mean that they are safe, simply that they are safer. The driver can still panic and hit things.

When you hit things in a 'safe' car the secondary safety features will protect you to a degree, but what about other road users? The people you crash into?

Secondary safety is the vehicles built in safety - crumple zones, collapsible steering columns, air bags, etc. Secondary safety might save you - even in a wreck like the one shown above.

But although cars are made out of modern, impact absorbing materials, kids on bikes are still made out of what they always were, good old skin and bone with a few soft internal bits - and they don't have built in airbags.

Primary safety is what you do … It doesn't matter how safe your car is ... It's not idiot proof!

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