Safety - Ferrari F430 Owner's Manual

Safety

Ferrari has designed and constructed
a vehicle that offers the best possible
performance for a road vehicle,
guaranteeing the maximum in terms of
safety. Following some simple rules will
guarantee maximum efficiency of the entire
system.
Passive safety
The passive safety system always intervenes
in the event of a collision.
In addition to the seats and the headrests,
the passive safety system components are:
• seat belts fitted with pretensioners and
load limiting devices;
• airbag;
• manual passenger airbag deactivation
switch;
• passenger airbag deactivation warning
light;
• airbag system failure warning light (see
page 32);
• deformable bodyshell and protective
survival cell;
• fuel cut-off inertia switch.
Depending on the impact, the passive
safety system intervenes in different ways
activating the various system components.
In the event of small collisions: in addition
to the protective action of the seats,
headrest and bodywork of the vehicle, only
the seat belts prevent the occupants from
50
being flung from the seat.
In the event of more severe head-on
collisions (up to 30° angle): in addition to
the seat belts, the pretensioners intervene
with a restraining action.
In the event of an even more severe head-
on collision up to a 30-degree angle with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle: in addition to the pretensioners, the
airbags intervene.
The load limiting devices on the seat belts
provide a suitable restraining action for the
occupant, so as to prevent serious injury to
his/her chest.
The protective action of the airbags is
always integrated with the seat belts
and the pretensioners. If the seat belts are
not fastened the driver and/or passenger
may be seriously injured. In the event of
collisions, side impacts or vehicle rollovers,
i.e. when the airbags are not activated, it is
essential to have the seat belts fastened.
Deformable body
The deformable bodyshell absorbs shock
and distributes it over the entire structure
of the vehicle allowing progressive
deceleration.
The passenger compartment structure, on
the other hand, has been designed to offer
maximum resistance without undergoing
deformation, with the aim of ensuring a
protective survival cell for the occupants.
Active safety
The active safety system has been designed
to prevent collisions.
Apart from the manoeuvrability, stability
and acceleration features of the vehicle, the
active safety components are the following:
• braking system
• air conditioning and heating system
• external lights
• buzzer and warning lights (flashing).
The braking system comprises the
mechanical brake system and the electronic
traction stability control system (CST)
which prevents the wheels from locking
and always provides good manoeuvrability
and stability.
The possibility of fast acceleration can
in some cases get you out of dangerous
situations. However, always use the
accelerator with extreme caution. During
acceleration of the driving wheels, the
anti-skid system may help you in certain
dangerous situations.
The air conditioning and heating system
in the passenger compartment can add to
driving comfort and keep you alert so that
you can react quickly when necessary.
It is very important to see and be seen
clearly, hence it is essential to turn on the
external lights when the conditions so
require.