- 2 days ago
Most cars have some interior features many of us don't know the function of. Have you ever used those grab handles installed above the doors in your car? We bet you have no idea about their real purpose! Do you feel safe when you're in a car? The car safety system saves your life every second. Let's see how it works from the inside! Let's explore these questions and more today!
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00:00You're driving on an empty highway and humming to your favorite track on the radio.
00:04Suddenly, a deer runs out onto the road.
00:06You look at each other in shock, and a moment later, you hit the brakes as hard as you can.
00:11You hear tires screeching.
00:13The car starts to slide on the asphalt, unable to stop.
00:17Smoke is coming out from under the wheels.
00:19In a second, the car starts to skid and swerve, and you're getting ever closer to that deer.
00:24A few more feet, and you miraculously stop right before you and Bambi have lunch.
00:30This situation might have been different if your car had had ABS, Anti-Lock Braking System.
00:36Here's your car going down the road.
00:38Let's take a closer look at the wheels.
00:40You step on the brake pedal.
00:41At that moment, the brake pads press against the spinning brake disc.
00:45And if you press the pedal too hard, the car's wheels lie.
00:49But the car loses traction, and now it begins to slide on its wheels.
00:53In this case, the braking distance will be too long to avoid an accident.
00:57Now, let's take a look at the tire itself.
01:00When braking begins, the tire deforms as if it were pulling back.
01:04And then, the brake performance is even worse.
01:07Experienced drivers know that even in the most urgent situation,
01:10you shouldn't hit the brake pedal with all your strength.
01:13You need to apply a little less pressure than it takes to lock up the wheels.
01:17Or you can brake in several strokes.
01:19When you feel that the wheels are locked up, you have to release the brake pedal,
01:23and then start braking again.
01:25That's exactly what the ABS does.
01:27There's a sensor on each of the brake discs, linked to the central computer.
01:31Even when the brake pedal is pressed to the limit,
01:33the sensors send an alarm to the computer,
01:35and it gives a command to reduce the pressure on the braking system.
01:39The wheel starts spinning again.
01:41Then the pressure increases, and the braking resumes.
01:43The ABS has to release the wheel lock right before the tire starts to deform.
01:48This braking will take as little distance as possible, so you can avoid a collision.
01:53ABS doesn't only work in emergency situations.
01:56Let's say you're driving down a road, which is drying out from an early rain shower.
02:01Your right wheels are on wet asphalt, while your left ones are on the dry part.
02:06Wet asphalt is much more slippery.
02:08Even if you brake very calmly, your tires still feel different friction against the asphalt.
02:13In that case, your car might just swerve.
02:16ABS feels this, and it can apply different brake pressure to each wheel.
02:21Even when you drive on a completely wet road, struggling with puddles,
02:25your brakes understand when a wheel has hit a puddle and it gets too slippery.
02:29The computer instantly sends out orders to each wheel, and your car continues to drive smoothly.
02:34It also allows you to maneuver while braking.
02:38When the wheels are locked, you can turn the steering wheel any way you want,
02:42but the car will continue to slide and won't change direction.
02:46ABS allows the wheels to keep turning during braking,
02:49so when you give direction with the steering wheel, the car will listen to you.
02:53The brake assist system teams up with ABS.
02:56Let's say you're driving on a flat freeway at the speed limit.
02:59Your path is clear and you feel relaxed.
03:02Suddenly, there's an obstacle on the road.
03:04And you have literally a fraction of a second to hit the brakes.
03:08Studies show that in emergency situations, drivers don't press the brake pedal all the way down.
03:14The braking distance will be longer than necessary, and an accident might occur.
03:18Brake assist system senses that you've pressed the pedal sharply.
03:22That means it's an emergency.
03:24It pushes the pedal all the way down to brake as efficiently as possible.
03:28If you brake hard in a calm situation, you can see how this system works.
03:32The brake pedal will start to fall down itself or move away from your foot a little bit.
03:37It's actually the car bringing the brake all the way down for you.
03:41So remember, when you drive, your movements should be calm and smooth.
03:46If you like to drive in all weather conditions, your safety will be kept by the traction control system.
03:52You're driving on a wet and slippery highway, and there's a sharp turn ahead.
03:56You turn the steering wheel and go into it.
03:58The turned wheels hit a puddle, and the grip gets worse.
04:02The wheels begin to spin much faster than when touching the road.
04:05If you do nothing and keep driving, as soon as the wheels touch the asphalt again, you'll lose control.
04:11You'll skid and go off the road.
04:13The traction control system uses the same sensors as the ABS, plus a few other clever details.
04:20They count the number of rotations on each wheel.
04:22When one wheel starts spinning faster than the others, the system feels the slipping.
04:27The main computer takes the signal and finds a solution.
04:30One option is to reduce the engine speed.
04:32The system can cut off the fuel supply to some of the cylinders of the engine.
04:36Or stop the ignition process in the cylinder itself.
04:40Then the engine speed drops and the wheels slow down.
04:43Another way is to command some of the brakes to slow the rotation of the wheels.
04:47The slipping stops, and you can maintain control of the car even in the most difficult situation and in any
04:54weather.
04:54The anti-lock braking system also helps the adaptive cruise control work.
04:59Cruise control is a smart system that helps you keep a certain speed without your own effort.
05:04You simply set the desired speed and take your foot off the gas pedal.
05:08The system adds or reduces the throttle itself to stick to that speed.
05:12It's basically an autopilot.
05:14All you have to do is steer and keep your eyes on the road.
05:18But if you're approaching a hazard, the car won't slow down by itself.
05:22So, no snoozing!
05:24Adaptive cruise control is there for your safety.
05:27With it, the car is equipped with several sensors, cameras, and a radar.
05:31You set the speed and move with the traffic on the highway.
05:34The radar emits waves in front of the car.
05:37Any metal object bounces those waves back to radar sensors.
05:41This way, the radar and the computer understand the distance to those objects.
05:45If that distance is getting shorter, the computer slows the car down.
05:50If there are no obstacles ahead, it'll keep the set speed.
05:53But what if a car cuts into your lane?
05:56The radar can see objects more than 300 feet away, so it notices the new obstacle immediately.
06:02If it's far enough, you'll just get a warning that you should start braking.
06:06If the distance continues to decrease, the system itself starts to slow you down.
06:11But if the obstacle in front of you is too sudden, the computer will order the car to begin emergency
06:17braking.
06:17The first two steps can even be skipped if the situation isn't safe.
06:22Starting uphill is another common cause of collisions on the road.
06:26Now, pretend you're driving on the streets of San Francisco, stuck in traffic at a red light on a steep
06:32uphill.
06:33Yeah, been there, done that.
06:35There's another car behind you.
06:36You see the green light and take your foot off the brake pedal to step on the gas.
06:40But the second you move your foot, the car starts rolling backwards, and bam, you bump into the car behind.
06:48To save you this trouble, there's the Hill Start Assist System, or HSA.
06:52The system leaves the wheels locked while you switch your foot from the brake to the gas pedal.
06:57Then, HSA removes the brake lock, and you have time to step on the gas pedal, preventing gravity from pulling
07:04you downhill.
07:05But if you're standing at a red light on a regular flat road and let go of the brake pedal
07:10to hit the gas, the system will still keep the brakes active.
07:13This could not only hold you back on the road, but cause a rear-end crash.
07:17We don't need that, so the designers installed a few details to help the main computer know if the car
07:23is on a slope or not, making HSA cleverer.
07:27And now, depending on the incline, HSA behaves differently.
07:31If the slope is slight, as soon as you take your foot off the brake pedal, the system begins to
07:36slowly take pressure off the brakes.
07:38It releases them completely when you put your foot on the gas pedal.
07:42If the slope is very steep, when you take your foot off the brake pedal and start gently pushing on
07:47the gas, HSA will still keep the wheels locked.
07:50It will only release them when you hit the gas hard enough for the car to start off uphill.
07:56The same thing happens when you need to move in reverse up a hill.
07:59You need even more time to assess the situation on the road and look in all your mirrors.
08:04So, the HSA will keep the brakes holding you there until you get enough throttle to start moving.
08:11Above each car door, you'll usually find a handle.
08:14I call it the oh-no handle.
08:17It's there to give you something to hold on to when your grandma decides to go full NASCAR.
08:23These handles are actually especially useful, all jokes aside.
08:27A lot of people need a little extra help getting in and out of the car.
08:31As for why the driver's door usually doesn't have one, there are a couple of reasons.
08:36For one, the steering wheel can function as a makeshift grab handle.
08:40Drivers might also be inclined to grab the handle while driving.
08:45Not safe.
08:46Modern car keys have a nice trick up their sleeve, if they had sleeves.
08:50They can control your windows.
08:52Try holding the unlock button on your car keys for a few seconds.
08:56There's a chance that after 5 seconds, your car windows will magically open.
09:01If you hold the lock button again, your windows should close.
09:05Only a few special people actually use this cool trick.
09:09Check out your owner's manual.
09:10Your car might be one of the lucky ones.
09:14If your internet goes down and you really need that gaming fix, Google has you covered.
09:20You click on your favorite shortcut and disaster.
09:23The dreaded message appears, unable to connect to the internet.
09:27But wait, what's that little pixelated dinosaur next to it?
09:32Instead of panicking, press that spacebar.
09:35This little game has become a huge hit, and it's a lot more addictive than it looks.
09:40A dinosaur jumping over a cactus?
09:43Genius!
09:44During the colder months, putting on a beanie can mean the difference between staying home and going outside.
09:50And you can thank French sailors for the pom-pom on top.
09:54This was to stop them from banging their heads on those pesky beams down below.
10:00Ow!
10:00Fast forward a bunch of decades, now everyone's wearing them.
10:06Next time you're on a flight, look above each window.
10:09You'll notice some little triangles sitting there.
10:12They're there to show the flight crew the best spots to view the plane's flaps through the window.
10:16If you're worried about a little air sickness ruining your flight, try to choose a seat that's located between these
10:24triangles.
10:25Sitting between the wings puts you in the direct center of the plane and offers the smoothest possible ride.
10:32Now, sitting at a long traffic light usually makes me hungry, bored, and a little curious.
10:38Have you ever thought about those black dots and that black line all along the edges of your windshield?
10:43It looks cool enough, but come on, it's gotta have a hidden use, right?
10:49Well, the black line is called a frit, and it's there to help your windshield from popping out of the
10:54car.
10:55Pretty important, I'd say.
10:58Microwavable instant rice loves to fall over in the microwave, if you're me, that is.
11:03And like me, you've probably struggled with keeping the package upright.
11:07As it turns out, the flaps that fold out from the bottom create a nice, sturdy base.
11:13Push them out and give it a try.
11:16Hey, why didn't I learn this in school?
11:19Has that half-finished, 2-liter bottle of soda, left over from Pizza Night, gone flat?
11:25Rather than pouring it down the drain, add it to your compost heap.
11:29The sugar feeds good microorganisms and increases the acidity of the pile,
11:34helping organic material break down faster.
11:38Any pair of scissors will go blunt sooner or later, but don't let that stop you.
11:43There's a product in your kitchen that can help bring them back to life fast.
11:48Aluminum foil isn't just for leftover lasagna.
11:51Fold a sheet of it into quarters and start cutting.
11:55Cutting through the foil will sharpen those scissors right up, but not if they're too blunt.
12:00Rescue them while there's still time.
12:03Those little escalator brushes aren't there to clean your shoes, even though they can do a rather good job.
12:09These bristles are actually a serious safety feature.
12:13Without them, clothes, shoelaces, and bags can get caught in them when they're too close to the sides.
12:19The little brushes are also there to tickle you, to remind you to look down and take care.
12:24Hey, I always thought it was a bug rubbing up against me.
12:29Half belts.
12:31Seriously, what's up with those things?
12:33Well, some military jackets used to double as blankets, and the half belt helped keep the extra material from getting
12:40in the soldier's way.
12:41Nowadays, they're mostly used as a fashion accessory.
12:46Accidentally stapling the wrong pages together is, like, the worst thing ever!
12:50Well, there are worse things, but it's certainly annoying.
12:54Especially if the staple takes out a huge piece of your document with it when you try to pry it
12:58off.
12:59There's actually a simple way to make sure that the stapler pins are less tight and easier to pull out.
13:05Take a close look at that metal plate at the front of your stapler, known as the anvil.
13:11Turn the stapler upside down and adjust the settings.
13:15You're basically changing the stapler setting to temporary.
13:18No more tears, no more tears.
13:22Toilet seat covers have been used wrong for way too long.
13:25I see you ripping off that flap that looks like a tongue.
13:29No, you're doing it all wrong.
13:31Instead of tearing it off, let the flap sit in the bowl after you put it down the cover.
13:36When you flush, the suction will pull on the flap and take it away.
13:41That dark square or rectangle at the end of your toothpaste tube?
13:45What does that mean?
13:46Is it color-coded to show what ingredients are in there?
13:50Or does it show whether the toothpaste is synthetic or natural?
13:53Well, sorry, but the truth isn't that exciting.
13:56The markings are there for the assembly machines.
13:59They help the machines know where to cut and fold each tube.
14:03We've all driven home from the supermarket,
14:06taken a right turn a little too hard, and crashed!
14:09Sounds like the groceries volcano just erupted in the trunk.
14:13Look closely in the trunk.
14:15You might see some little hooks in there.
14:17You can hang your bags on them.
14:19Ooh.
14:20Yeah, some cars have them behind the front seats instead.
14:24You can use them to hang clothes or even your take-out bag.
14:29You may have noticed that members of the flight crew like to touch the overhead compartments
14:34while they're walking down the aisle.
14:35They don't have a weird desire to touch everything.
14:38There are actually handles along the edges to give them a better grip while walking.
14:43Go ahead and use them the next time you feel like a mid-air stroll.
14:47It's definitely better than grabbing onto everyone's headrests.
14:51Don't you hate that?
14:53A shiny brass doorknob adds just the right amount of fancy to your front door.
14:58But that's not all it does.
15:00Brass, like anything with copper alloy in it,
15:03has antimicrobial properties that many harmful germs and bacteria just can't stand.
15:09In high-traffic areas, these brass knobs and handles are the perfect way to get rid of those nasty germs
15:15without having to use harsh chemicals all the time.
15:18The only downside is that brass is a lot more expensive than other metals.
15:23That might be why it's hardly used for this anymore.
15:27Does your toothbrush have a pattern of blue bristles weaved in with the white ones?
15:32It makes the toothbrush look a lot more stylish.
15:35But it's not just about looking good.
15:38Those bristles actually have a practical purpose.
15:41The blue dye is designed to wear off around the same time as when you should replace your toothbrush.
15:47You should be switching out your toothbrush every 3-4 months anyway.
15:51But those blue bristles are there to give you a gentle nudge, just in case you forget.
15:57Now, you walk over them every day and never think about it twice.
16:01But is there a reason maintenance hole covers are always round?
16:05In past civilizations, like ancient Rome, these covers used to be square-shaped slabs of stone.
16:12But all those edges and gaps led to plenty of stubbed toes and accidents for unsuspecting Romans.
16:19A round cover eliminated the problem.
16:22Plus, it meant you could only open it with a specialized tool.
16:25Probably a good idea.
16:28The thermos was invented by a Scottish scientist, but not for keeping his coffee warm.
16:33He just wanted to keep some chemicals at a stable temperature.
16:37He placed a small bottle inside of a larger one and then sucked all the air out from between the
16:43two bottles.
16:43This same technique is used to make the modern thermos.
16:48You can find a pin cushion in just about every household.
16:51And strangely, it's always in the shape of a tomato.
16:55Ever wondered about that little strawberry dangling from the top?
16:59I'm no biologist, but I'm quite sure that strawberries don't grow on tomatoes.
17:04That little thing's for the needle you're currently using, so you don't lose it in that big pile you have.
17:11Stick deodorants go to waste when the casing starts rubbing against your skin.
17:16But there's still plenty left in there.
17:18Here's an easy trick to get it out.
17:20Unscrew the bottom and push it up from underneath.
17:23That'll give you a few more days, at least.
17:27Some people still drive off from the gas station with the hose shoved in their gas tank.
17:32Oh boy.
17:33Luckily, gas companies figured out a solution.
17:36If you happen to drive off with the hose still in there,
17:39there's a magnetic connector that disengages when pulled.
17:43That way, you don't take the pump with you.
17:46Now that would be embarrassing.
17:48Opening jars can be tough, even for the strongest person.
17:52I need a pickle, stack.
17:54Ah!
17:55Luckily, there's a solution.
17:57Pop on some rubber gloves.
17:59These gloves aren't simply great for cleaning.
18:01They'll give you the extra grip you need to open even the toughest of containers.
18:06Now your life is just a little bit better.
18:09You're welcome.
18:13Are you sure you feel safe when you leave your car out overnight, in a parking lot, or at the
18:18office?
18:19Every year, shifty lawbreakers steal millions of cars all over the world.
18:24That's about 800,000 a year just in the US.
18:28And believe me, thieves are getting more inventive every year.
18:31They've learned how to turn off car alarms, outsmart smart keys, and, on average, drive away in your car in
18:38just 20 seconds.
18:40So, what are you gonna do?
18:42Well, let's start with the basics.
18:44Like when your car alarm starts talking to you.
18:46You're sitting at home when suddenly, beep, beep, beep, get out here and help me!
18:51Your car's screaming at you.
18:53You grab your keys and rush to the window.
18:55Hmm, I don't see anyone.
18:57Maybe a neighbor passed by a little too close, or a bird sat on my antenna.
19:02What if everything isn't so harmless, and someone was trying to get into your car?
19:07Good old car alarm frightened him off.
19:09Congratulations!
19:10Yeah, the whole neighborhood's awake, but you kept your car.
19:14Well, step up your game with a mute immobilizer.
19:17It works like this.
19:18Someone somehow gets into your car.
19:21Heh heh heh, perfect.
19:22Totally got away with it.
19:23Key in, car on, punch it into drive, time for a quick getaway.
19:28Your car speeds off.
19:30For about 3 seconds, then chit-chit-chit, your car stalls and refuses to move.
19:36Looks like someone picked the wrong car, thinks the thief, and he's off into the night.
19:40You actually need 2 keys to start your car.
19:43Your regular key, and a kind of electronic reader that double confirms it's really you.
19:48It's kind of like when they send you a code by text when you want to open some secure app
19:53on your phone.
19:54When you have one of these systems and someone tries to steal your car, it shuts down automatically.
20:00Just remember, keep your 2 key thingies separate from each other.
20:04If they're on the same keychain, then the whole thing was pointless.
20:08Experts recommend telling everyone your car is protected.
20:11Slap a sticker on there.
20:12This car is protected by super-secret safe security.
20:16Yeah, it's not a done deal.
20:18But why bother trying to steal a car if it might be protected?
20:21Don't have the cash for a car alarm with built-in immobilizer yet?
20:25Well, at least buy a sticker.
20:27So anti-theft systems work pretty well, but you still gotta be careful.
20:31Say you're in a hurry, late for an important meeting.
20:34Rush hour, traffic, I can't be late again!
20:37Finally, you drive up to the building, pull into the parking lot, jump out of your car, and sprint to
20:43the entrance.
20:44So, did you check all your windows?
20:46You sure they're closed?
20:48What about the doors?
20:49If you stop and look around, you might just see a casual observer in the parking lot,
20:54sitting in a car or wandering around pretending to look for something.
20:59Say goodbye to your unlocked car.
21:01You may as well put a welcome sign on it.
21:03And even if they don't steal your car, don't hold your breath for all your personal stuff inside.
21:09So, remember, when you get out of your car, take a peek.
21:13Yeah, did you leave anything behind?
21:15Documents, wallet, phone?
21:17Don't be too shocked if they're gone when you get back.
21:20Just shove them into the glove compartment.
21:23Take extra care if you usually park in your driveway.
21:26Imagine you come home for dinner, leave the car, and rush into the house.
21:30Mmm, dinner smells so good.
21:32Well, some guy out on the street's thinking the same thing about your unlocked car.
21:37Delicious!
21:38And it's not just at night.
21:40Make sure you lock your car when you get home, even if it's in the middle of the day.
21:44I'm so guilty on this next one.
21:46Don't leave your car keys near the front door.
21:49I've been doing it wrong for years.
21:51You lock your car, go inside, throw the keys on that table next to the front door, and run to
21:56the kitchen.
21:57Oops!
21:57How often do you check if there are any weird people around when you drive up to your house?
22:02Me?
22:03Nah, never.
22:04It'd be pretty easy to miss someone hiding behind a tree or pretending to tie his shoelaces or something.
22:11He waits for a little while, sneaks up to the front door, and pulls the handle.
22:15You were so hungry, you forgot to lock it.
22:18The guy looks around for your keys, and there they are.
22:21Why does everyone leave them right there for me?
22:24He grabs them and he's out the door.
22:26You never heard a thing.
22:28What if you left your new watch on that little table?
22:31Yeah, it's gone too.
22:32Bottom line, don't leave anything valuable right by the front door.
22:36And always lock it behind you.
22:39The worst thing you can do?
22:40Leave the key in the ignition and jump out just for a second.
22:44Gotta get my morning coffee.
22:45Uh-huh.
22:47Safer to keep your doors locked, even if you're driving.
22:50You're driving along, you stop at a red light, whoosh.
22:53Somebody sneaks back up to your car, opens the passenger door, or even better, the back door,
22:59grabs your bag, and vanishes in the crowd.
23:02When you're looking for a space in a big parking lot, leave your car under the lights.
23:07Don't drive to the darkest part of the lot just because there are loads of empty spaces.
23:12So you have to walk a bit more.
23:14Big deal.
23:14Your car's safe.
23:16And don't think they're only hunting for expensive cars.
23:20Cheaper cars get stolen too.
23:22They take them to some hidden warehouse, then they get taken apart.
23:26Much easier to resell parts than a whole car.
23:29A cool idea is to customize your car.
23:32Like maybe airbrush something crazy on the hood.
23:35That kind of car is super easy to spot on security cameras.
23:39Plus, people will remember seeing it.
23:41That kind of stuff can easily scare off a thief.
23:44You should probably still get an alarm, though.
23:47This next option's a bit extreme.
23:50You can hire professionals to mark all your car windows with a special number.
23:54If someone stole your car, they'd have to change all the windows before selling it.
23:59Totally not worth it.
24:01Thieves are great actors.
24:03What would you do if you saw someone drive up in a tow truck wearing some sort of uniform?
24:08They get out, check out a parked car, pretend to fill out some forms, and tow the car right then
24:14and there.
24:14If that happens to you, you can ask for the number of the tow company and call and see if
24:20it's legit.
24:21Another little trick, get in the habit of turning the wheels all the way to either side.
24:26That makes it way harder to tow quickly.
24:29The main thing these days is that your key is probably electronic.
24:33Thieves can use signal amplifiers to open your car from far away.
24:37And sorry to tell you, copying the entire electronic key code just takes a few minutes.
24:43Be careful with car washes and valets.
24:46So, what's the plan?
24:48Become a digital mastermind and camp out behind a bush near your car, waiting to catch your very own car
24:54thief?
24:55Sometimes, the old ways work best.
24:58My grandpa's always telling me that.
25:00But I gotta be fair, he's always locking his car with one of those heavy steering wheel locks.
25:05And no one's ever broken into his car.
25:08I hate it when he's right.
25:10Probably the most popular thing nowadays is to GPS your car.
25:14You just hide a little receiver somewhere inside the car or in the trunk.
25:19Then, you can track it from your phone.
25:21If it starts to move and you're not driving it, it's probably being stolen.
25:26Don't go chasing after the car by yourself.
25:29Let the pros handle it.
25:30You're out shopping for groceries.
25:32But in the parking lot, someone's left you a surprise.
25:35The classic plastic bottle in front of your wheel.
25:39You start moving and suddenly crack.
25:42What was that?
25:43Better check it out.
25:44You probably don't turn off your car or put your key away.
25:48You're out of your car for a few seconds.
25:50But believe me, for a professional thief, that's agents.
25:53The same thing can happen if you have to get out of the car to close a gate or a
25:57garage door.
25:59Sometimes they put flyers under the rear wiper.
26:02You jump out to take care of it and, you know, bye-bye car.
26:06Make sure you shut the engine off and take the key out.
26:09Be extra careful if you're trying to sell your car.
26:12Bring a friend along to meet your buyer and don't take out any car documents until the very end.
26:18And hold on to the keys.
26:20If you're out on a test drive, get in the car first and get out last.
26:24You don't want your precious car driving off while you pop out for your morning coffee.