The smashed remains of a Jaguar F-PACE and a Mercedes E-Class 220d tells two very contrasting tales — one of violent death and the other of safety that money can buy provided the occupants adhere to basic regulations such as strapping on their seat belts.

The Mercedes E-Class saloon that retails for Rs 58.5 lakh (ex-showroom) has a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Its safety package is a combination of rigid body structure together with restraint systems and driver assistance systems on board.

The saloon has a stiff bodyshell with a high proportion of aluminium and ultra-high-tensile steel components. The front wings, bonnet, boot lid and large sections of the front and rear ends are made of sheet or cast aluminium.

This lightweight yet strong material makes the body shell stiff and resistant and also crumples on impact. That is the reason why the car is smashed to the extent that it has.

The car that was involved in the accident. (Bishwarup Dutta)

The restraint systems include three-point belts for driver and front passenger with electronic reversible belt tensioners and also

pyrotechnic belt tensioners in the event of an accident as well as belt force limiters.

There are also head restraints for driver and front passenger, which provide early support for the head in the event of a collision. Window airbags and knee bags restrict occupant movement in the event of an impact.

The Jaguar F-PACE that retails for Rs 65.13 lakh

(ex-showroom) has driver and front passenger airbags with seat occupant detector for passenger. “However, airbags will not deploy if the seat belts are not used,” said Sirshendu Goswami, assistant general manager of Lexus Motors Limited, the sole dealer for Jaguars in the city.

A combination of airbag deployment and seat belt saved the Jaguar occupant despite a head-on collision with the Mercedes.

Airbags deploy when the crash impact sensors send data to the restraints control module that decides the level of airbag module deployment. There are also full length side window curtains that absorb impact in case of collision.