Most cars today are equipped with all kinds of safety features. These are mainly intended to protect the occupants against injury in the event of a traffic accident. For example, there are more and more airbags in the car. Not only in the steering wheel, but also for the passengers in the car, even airbags at the side.

People in the car are fairly well protected these days. In traffic, however, cars still cause many traffic accidents. Not only are the occupants at risk, but also other road users. This applies in particular to cyclists and pedestrians. These vulnerable road users can suffer serious injuries as a result of a traffic accident. For example, if a cyclist is hit (Dutch: fietser aangereden), he or she often suffers significant health damage.

Danger: cars for cyclists and pedestrians

Car manufacturers are well aware that the cars they manufacture can pose a danger to other road users. This is especially the case with electric cars. After all, these motor vehicles do not make any noise and therefore do not stand out in traffic. This often leads to significant health damage.

In recent years, the focus of car manufacturers has increasingly shifted to the safety of road users other than the motorist and passengers themselves. After all, the safety of these people is already reasonably guaranteed to the maximum extent.

Measures that in particular also guarantee the safety of cyclists and pedestrians include a rear-view camera that allows cyclists and pedestrians to be seen better. But systems that automatically brake or reduce speed if a cyclist or pedestrian is involved are also common.

New road safety obligations from 2022

New rules have been adopted in the European Parliament that should guarantee road safety even more from 2022. As a result, a number of safety systems must be implemented in all new cars from 2024. This includes an emergency stop warning system and automatic emergency braking. This can, for example, help to prevent a bicycle accident or accident with a pedestrian.

Other safety systems that will apply from 2022 are preparation for an alcohol interlock, a drowsiness warning system, improved seat belts and a lane assistant.

All these safety systems are now often options on the more luxurious cars in particular, but will soon be mandatory on all cars that will be brought to market from 2024.

What if a traffic accident happens anyway?

Unfortunately, despite all safety systems, many traffic accidents still happen. That is why many national legislation states that cars must be insured against liability in the event of a car accident. In many countries, the law also entitles you to the assistance of a free personal injury lawyer, for example a personal injury lawyer in Amsterdam (Dutch: letselschade advocaat Amsterdam). This helps to recover injuries after a traffic accident, but also, for example, in the event of a dog bite (Dutch: hondenbeet)

Conclusion

The driver and passengers in a car are well protected against injury as a result of a traffic accident. There are also all kinds of safety systems that make it safer in traffic for the car's occupants, but also for third parties. Pedestrians and cyclists in particular are often victims of an accident.

In order to prevent someone from being hit by a cyclist or being the victim of a collision as a pedestrian, European legislation will require all kinds of safety systems in cars from 2022 to further protect road safety. Cyclists and pedestrians in particular benefit from these new regulations.