Pre-Collision System
SécuritéAverage price
500€ - 2000€
The pre-collision system, also known by various commercial names (Pre-Safe, Pre-Sense, Front Assist), is an advanced active safety technology designed to prevent collisions or mitigate their severity. This system uses a combination of sensors, such as radars, cameras, and sometimes lidars, to continuously monitor the road ahead of the vehicle. By analyzing data in real time, it detects risky situations, such as a sudden slowdown of the preceding vehicle or the presence of an unexpected obstacle (pedestrian, cyclist). When a collision hazard is identified, the system reacts in several stages. It generally begins with a visual and/or audible alert to warn the driver. If the driver does not react, the system can take preparatory measures, such as pre-conditioning the braking system for a faster response or pre-tensioning the seatbelts. In the final phase, if a collision is deemed unavoidable, it can autonomously trigger emergency braking (AEB - Autonomous Emergency Braking) to reduce impact speed or, ideally, avoid the accident entirely. This technology is a cornerstone of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and contributes significantly to improving road safety.
Benefits
- ✓Significant reduction in the risk of frontal collisions
- ✓Decrease in the severity of accidents and associated injuries
- ✓Enhanced protection for vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists)
- ✓Driver assistance in emergency situations, reducing stress
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The Pre-Collision System: Your Guardian Angel on the Road
In the modern automotive landscape, safety is no longer just a matter of reinforced body structure and airbags. Active safety—the kind that intervenes to avoid accidents—has taken on a predominant role. At the heart of this revolution is the pre-collision system, an intelligent technology that acts as a vigilant co-pilot, ready to step in within a fraction of a second to protect you and other road users.
How does a pre-collision system work?
The operating principle of the pre-collision system relies on a chain of actions: detect, analyze, and act. To achieve this, it relies on a set of cutting-edge technologies integrated into the vehicle.
- The sensors: the vehicle's eyes. A camera located at the top of the windshield, one or more radars housed in the front grille or bumper, and sometimes LiDAR sensors, constantly scan the environment. They measure distances, relative speeds, and identify the nature of objects (vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist).
- The Electronic Control Unit (ECU): the brain. The data collected by the sensors is transmitted to a powerful computer. The latter analyzes it in real-time to assess the risk of a collision. If the vehicle's trajectory converges dangerously with an obstacle, the system triggers an alert and intervention procedure.
The different phases of intervention
The intervention of the pre-collision system is progressive and designed to allow the driver the opportunity to resume control at any time.
- Phase 1: The alert. In the event of moderate danger, the system issues a visual alert (a pictogram on the instrument cluster or head-up display) and an audible alert (a beep). This is a first warning to draw the driver's attention.
- Phase 2: Preparation. If the driver does not react and the risk intensifies, the system moves to the next stage. It can pre-charge the braking circuit for maximum response as soon as the driver presses the pedal, and begin tightening the seatbelts to keep occupants in an optimal position.
- Phase 3: Active intervention. If a collision is imminent and unavoidable without action, the system takes over and triggers automatic emergency braking (AEB). Even if it cannot always avoid impact, reducing speed by even just a few km/h significantly decreases the crash energy and therefore the severity of the consequences.
Each manufacturer has developed its own technology with a distinct commercial name:
- Pre-Safe® at Mercedes-Benz
- Pre Sense at Audi
- Front Assist at Volkswagen
- Active Guard at BMW
- Toyota Safety Sense (PCS) at Toyota
- Active Safety Brake at Peugeot and Citroën
Compatible brands
Finitions équipées
63 finition(s) proposent cet équipement
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Associated equipment
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Autonomous Emergency Braking, commonly known by the acronym AEB, is a fundamental active safety system in modern automotive engineering. Classified among Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), its mission is to prevent frontal collisions or, failing that, drastically reduce their severity. To achieve this, it relies on a suite of sophisticated sensors—windshield-mounted cameras, grille-integrated radars, and/or LiDARs—that continuously scan the environment ahead of the vehicle. The on-board computer analyzes the data from these sensors in real-time to calculate the distance and relative speed of other vehicles, as well as more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. If the system detects a critical situation where a collision is imminent and the driver shows no reaction (braking or evasive steering), the AEB takes control autonomously and progressively. It first issues visual and audible alerts. If there is no response, it can pre-condition the braking system for maximum effectiveness, then apply partial braking and, as a last resort, full-power emergency braking. Its proven effectiveness has made it an essential criterion for achieving 5 stars in Euro NCAP tests and a mandatory technology on all new vehicle types marketed in Europe since July 2022, in accordance with the GSR 2 regulation.
Emergency Brake Assist
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), also known as AFU in French, is an active safety system designed to help the driver achieve maximum braking force in critical situations. This system continuously analyzes the speed and force with which the driver presses the brake pedal. If it detects a rapid and sudden action, characteristic of panic braking, the EBA interprets that the driver intends to stop immediately. It then instantly and automatically increases the pressure in the brake circuit up to the ABS activation threshold, even if the driver has not pressed the pedal to the floor. The primary objective is to compensate for the human reflex of often failing to brake with sufficient force in an emergency. By guaranteeing optimal deceleration from the very first moments, EBA significantly reduces stopping distances, thereby potentially avoiding a collision or drastically reducing its severity. This system works in perfect synergy with ABS (which prevents wheel lock-up) and ESP (which maintains vehicle trajectory), forming an essential trio for modern active safety.
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Collision Warning, often referred to by the acronym FCW, is an active safety system designed to prevent or mitigate accidents involving frontal collisions. Using a combination of sensors such as radars, cameras, or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mounted at the front of the vehicle, the system continuously monitors the road. It analyzes in real time the distance and relative speed of the vehicle ahead, as well as other potential obstacles such as pedestrians or cyclists. If the system detects a rapid decrease in distance and calculates an imminent risk of collision, it alerts the driver. These alerts can take several forms, often combined to maximize their effectiveness: a visual signal on the dashboard or head-up display, a shrill audible alert, and sometimes a vibration in the steering wheel or a brief brake jolt (haptic alert). This system is a crucial first line of defense, giving the driver valuable extra reaction time to brake or perform an evasive maneuver. It is often the precursor and essential complement to the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system, which can intervene if the driver fails to react to the alert.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Adaptive Cruise Control, known by the acronym ACC, is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that represents a major evolution from standard cruise control. While the latter merely maintains a fixed speed, ACC intelligently and automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed to maintain a pre-set safety distance from the vehicle ahead. To achieve this, it relies on sophisticated front-mounted sensors (radar, LiDAR, and/or camera) that continuously analyze traffic. If the vehicle ahead slows down, ACC commands deceleration, up to activating the brakes. As soon as the road is clear, it accelerates again to reach the set speed. The most advanced systems, known as "Stop & Go", even manage complete stops in traffic jams and automatic restarts, offering unparalleled comfort in dense traffic. By automating distance and speed management, ACC reduces the driver's mental workload, lowers the risk of rear-end collisions, and improves traffic flow, serving as a fundamental technological building block for semi-autonomous driving.
Blind Spot Monitor
The blind spot monitor, often referred to by the acronym BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring), is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) fundamental to modern automotive safety. Its role is to monitor the lateral and rear areas of the vehicle that are invisible to the driver via the rearview mirrors or direct vision. To do this, it relies on a network of sensors, typically short-range radars hidden in the corners of the rear bumper or under the outer mirror housings. As soon as a vehicle (car, motorcycle, truck) enters this blind spot, the system alerts the driver. The warning most often takes the form of a light, usually an orange or red icon that illuminates in the outside mirror on the affected side. If the driver engages their turn signal to change lanes while a hazard is present, the alert is intensified by a rapid flashing of the indicator, often coupled with an audible signal or a steering wheel vibration. The most advanced systems, classified as active, can go so far as to apply a slight counter-steering force to discourage the maneuver and prevent a collision. Particularly effective on high-speed roads and in dense traffic, this technology has become an essential safety standard, significantly reducing the risk of lane-change accidents.