What’s the Difference Between Active vs. Passive Car Safety Features?
The 21st century driver benefits from a host of car safety features to help prevent accidents and limit their severity, including:
- Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
- Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
However, some people don’t understand how these vehicle safety systems break down into active and passive safety features, so we’ve put together a quick overview to get you up to speed.
Active vs. Passive Safety
Active safety features are responsible for avoiding accidents in the first place, so they generally work to keep the vehicle firmly under your control — they are always “active.” Some of the active safety features you’ll find in Honda vehicles include:
- Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Passive safety features are so named because they remain passive until needed. If an accident does occur, they work to prevent or lessen harm to driver and passengers.
Common Honda passive safety features include:
- Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
- 3-Point Seat Belts
- Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)


Driver-Assistance Vehicle Safety Systems
Driver-assistance technologies are also considered “active” since they work to maintain control and avoid accidents, but they work using more sophisticated technology.
Many are collected within Honda Sensing technologies, including:
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Radars and cameras are used to increase your awareness and warn you of danger, and systems even act independently to prevent a collision. Whether avoiding accidents in central Chicago or keeping you in your chosen lane from Aurora to Naperville, Honda Sensing technologies can give your peace of mind a dramatic boost.
Further driver-assistance technologies include:
- Honda LaneWatch
- Blind Spot Information System
- Cross Traffic Monitor
- Auto High-Beam Headlights


Learn More at Valley Honda in Aurora
Honda’s cutting-edge active and passive safety features are a huge part of the brand’s enduring popularity. To find out more, simply contact Valley Honda today.
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