What is safe about safety matches? What makes them so special?

Question

And do you always strike away from the body as it says on the box?

Answer 1

they only light when you strike them against the stripe on the box. Ordinary matches will strike against any rough surface or each other.

If you rattle a box of ordinary matches you risk the matches lighting but safety matches won't.

Answer 2

I have to agree with the first answer, but none of them are safe if in the hands of a child!!