Automotive expert Francisco Javier Páez discusses vehicle safety advancements

Francisco Javier Páez Ayuso, an industrial engineer and director of the University Institute of Automobile Research (INSIA-UPM), highlights the significant evolution of automotive safety over the last two decades.

Páez notes that while passive safety has improved through high-strength materials, advanced body structures, and better restraint systems like airbags and pretensioner belts, the most substantial progress has occurred in active safety. Modern vehicles now frequently include systems capable of identifying pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles to apply automatic braking in potential collision scenarios.

When purchasing a vehicle, Páez advises consumers that simple tests, such as the coin test, are insufficient. He recommends requesting the full report from the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) to ensure comprehensive safety understanding.