Fortunately, cars are becoming increasingly connected and comfortable. These factors must weigh when choosing fleet assets, but we cannot forget the mandatory vehicle safety items.
With the publication of 14 / 98 resolution, in 1998, the National Traffic Safety Council (CONTRAN) determined which items are part of the mandatory equipment for automobiles.
Throughout the content, you will discover the essential items and tools to ensure the safety of your vehicle fleet.
The importance of vehicle safety features
What are the mandatory vehicle safety items?
What are the must-have security tools?
What changed in 2024 in relation to vehicle safety features?
The importance of vehicle safety features
Traffic is a shared responsibility, so vehicle safety features not only protect drivers and passengers, but also everyone else who shares the road, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Furthermore, these features that are part of the mandatory equipment of cars also generate significant benefits for your business:
- Reduce the risk of accidents and injuries
- Avoid fines and penalties for traffic violations
- Reduce maintenance, repair and compensation costs
- Increase reliability and satisfaction with the services provided
- Improve vehicle performance and efficiency
- Contribute to the preservation of the environment
For these and other reasons, paying attention to the vehicle's safety features is to remember that the lives of your professionals and other people depend on it, especially since data from the World Health Organization (WHO) point out Brazil as the fourth country with the highest number of traffic fatalities in the world.
Suggested reading: How to design and implement a fleet safety program
What are the mandatory vehicle safety items?
CONTRAN determines a series of mandatory equipment for cars and motorcycles. The lack or malfunction of these devices can result in a fine of R$195,23 and the loss of 5 points on your license, in addition to the retention of the vehicle until it is regularized.
Find out which items are part of the mandatory car equipment:
airbags
Airbags are activated in the event of a collision, so they help protect vehicle occupants against the impacts of the accident. In fact, they have been part of the mandatory equipment in cars since 2014, both for the driver and the front seat passenger.
There are also some vehicles that have side airbags that offer additional protection in the event of side impacts, further reducing the possibility of damage and injuries in this type of accident.
Brakes
The brake system must always be maintained up to date, to be activated accurately when necessary. The same care applies to the handbrake, which must have an independent activation control.
It is important to highlight that new cars must leave the factory with the ABS system, which prevents the wheels from locking during sudden braking and does not leave the vehicle without grip on the road.
Suggested reading: Fleet maintenance plan: how to prepare and ensure greater safety in your operation
Seat belts
Surely you already imagined that this would be on the list, after all, the seat belt prevents the driver or passengers from being thrown out of the car during an accident or sudden braking. But, incredible as it may seem, its use only became mandatory in 1997.
Mirrors
Rear-view mirrors, both internal and external, are considered vehicle safety items as they offer a broad view of the road, allowing you to maneuver cautiously and safely.
Lights and headlight
The headlights, steering lights, reversing light and brake light are also on the list, as they are essential for signaling movement, highlighting the car and avoiding accidents. In this category, the following items are part of the mandatory equipment for cars:
- White or yellow front headlights
- White or yellow front position lights
- Red rear position lights
- Red brake lights
- Amber front and amber or red rear turn signal lights
- White reversing light
- Red rear reflectors
- White rear license plate light
A good practice is to drive with low beams on at all times, even during the day, to ensure that fleet vehicles are seen by other drivers.
bumpers
The bumper is an essential component of the external structure of vehicles, installed horizontally in the front and rear areas of vehicles, with the aim of cushioning impacts and preventing greater damage in collisions.
Headrests
It may seem superfluous, but the backrests prevent the driver's and passengers' heads from being thrown back in the event of an accident, which prevents serious or even fatal neck injuries.
Suggested reading: Accident with a company vehicle: what are the company's duties and the employee's responsibilities?
Windshield and sunshade
The windshield glass must be made with layers of polyvinyl, which prevent it from disintegrating in collisions, preventing splinters and fragments from causing injuries to the vehicle's occupants.
Furthermore, the windshield wiper and washer system are also mandatory and essential car safety items to ensure the driver's visibility in the event of rain, for example.
The internal sun protection plate is another item that may seem unnecessary, but is essential to block the light that can impair the driver's visibility.
Tires
No, tires are not exactly a safety item, but their useful life certainly is. To guarantee its reliability, manufacturers indicate uniform wear on all four wheels, together with the periodic carrying out of car review and tire rotation.
The legislation also requires that they be calibrated at the correct pressure, to avoid premature wear of the parts.
Also, keep an eye on the rear tires, which are responsible for stability in curves and guarantee the vehicle's grip during sudden braking, so the best preserved ones should always be installed on the rear axle.
Suggested reading: Payroll deduction for damages and breakdowns
What are the must-have security tools?
You've probably noticed the tools that are usually in the trunk of every vehicle, they are essential items for emergency situations, such as accidents or flat tires. Check out which ones are mandatory:
- Triangle
- Tire iron
- Automotive jack
- Steppe
And the fire extinguisher? It is no longer one of the mandatory vehicle safety items for tricycles, pickup trucks, vans and cars with the resolution no. 556/2015, published by CONTRAN.
However, it is still mandatory for trucks, buses, vehicles used to transport flammable products and common vehicles used to transport passengers.
Suggested reading: We are Experts: preserving lives is easier with the right tools
What changed in 2024 in relation to vehicle safety features?
With the aim of increasing the traffic Safety and reduce the rate of fatal accidents, several measures were implemented after resolution 14/98, such as the Route 2030 Program, prepared by the Federal Government to encourage technological advancement and investment in the automotive and auto parts sector.
From 2024 onwards, the list of vehicle safety features has become even more comprehensive and all cars are required to leave the factory with additional features:
- Stability Control: a system that monitors the vehicle's stability and intervenes automatically, adjusting the engine tank and applying individual braking to specific wheels to prevent skidding and loss of control.
- Daytime Running Lights (DRLs): lights that come on automatically during the day to improve the vehicle's visibility, making it more visible to other drivers and pedestrians during the period.
- Seat belt alert on dashboard: a mechanism that alerts audibly or visually on the vehicle dashboard whenever the driver or passenger is not wearing a seat belt.
- Side impact test: a vehicle safety assessment procedure that simulates side collisions to verify the vehicle's occupant protection capacity.
- Sudden braking indicators: sensors that detect sudden reductions in speed and emit visual signals to alert drivers behind about sudden braking, normally, the lights flash non-stop.
- Turn signal repeaters on the rear view mirrors: lights integrated into the vehicle's exterior mirrors, which improve visibility and clearly indicate intentions to change direction.
To ensure the proper functioning of all these items, it is important to follow a fleet maintenance plan to make sure that all parts, items and systems operate at their best performance.
This approach helps identify and correct potential problems before they become more serious and potentially dangerous, as well as extending the life of components and reducing the risk of unexpected failures.
We have produced a guide to help you develop and implement a preventive maintenance plan in your operation. Get yours right now:
