2011 Buick Enclave Acts Before Rollover Impact

Despite the fact that rollovers are said to be among the rarest of vehicle crashes, the 2011 Buick Enclave is fitted with a series of features that are meant to offer maximum protection against them. In fact the vehicle comes with sensors that are designed to predict rollovers and help protect vehicle occupants before a crash occurs.

"It's like we gave the Enclave special powers when it comes to rollovers," said Bridget O'Brien-Mitchell, the General Motors engineer who led the team that developed predictive rollover sensing. "But we're using technology as part of our commitment to protect customers and their families."

Enclave's new rollover sensing technology ensures timely deployment of occupant crash protection systems. The sensors can predict in a fraction of a second whether a rollover is likely to occur. If it senses a rollover, the system sends a signal to deploy front seat safety belt pretensioners and head curtain side air bags to protect occupants.

Pretensioners reduce safety belt slack, and load limiters moderate the load of the safety belt on the occupant in a crash. Both technologies work together to help keep occupants in place during a crash.

This comprehensive package of safety features has helped the 2011 Enclave receive NHTSA's highest five-star overall vehicle safety score and more recently the Top Safety Pick award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

According to the NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2009 annual report, rollovers accounted for 2.2 percent of all vehicle crashes, while fatalities from these crashes amounted to 35.4 percent of all traffic deaths.

All Buicks, including Enclave, feature the safety and security of OnStar technology. In the event of a crash, OnStar's Automatic Crash Response alerts first responders to get medical assistance on site as quickly as possible.