10 Car Safety Features to Look for When Buying a Car

Are you in the market for a new car? If so, you’re likely overwhelmed by the possibilities. There are so many variables to pay attention to, from the shape and size of the vehicle to its bottom-line price, that it’s hard to know what to prioritize.

For most people, a top priority needs to be safety. But what are the most important car safety features to look for when shopping around for a new vehicle?

The Dangers of Car Accidents

First, understand that even with the best safety features, accidents are still possible. You need to be prepared for this, exercising caution at all times while driving and preparing proactively for the possibility of a collision.

If you’re ever in an accident, prioritize the following:

• Get to safety. Your first goal is getting yourself and your passengers to a safe place.
• Contact emergency services. Next, you’ll want to contact emergency services for anything more serious than a simple fender bender.
• Collect evidence. Saving dashcam footage, taking photos, taking videos, and interviewing witnesses can all help you collect evidence.
• File a police report. Even if it doesn’t seem warranted, it’s a good idea to file a police report and make sure all details are accurate.
• Contact an attorney. Contacting a lawyer is another important step to take, especially if you were personally injured in the accident. Your lawyer can help you negotiate for a higher settlement and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Car Safety Features to Look for When Buying a Car

Now onto car safety features: what should the average consumer look for when buying a car?

1. Seatbelts. Aside from one state (New Hampshire), every state and district in the United States legally mandates the use of seatbelts for at least front-seat occupants. Seatbelts are simple, yet highly effective at preventing ejections and minimizing injuries.
2. Airbags. All modern cars are equipped with airbags that inflate upon collision to protect drivers and passengers from potential injuries. The question is, how many airbags are there and how are they positioned? Some vehicles come with extra side impact airbags and more airbag settings for drivers to control.
3. Antilock brakes. If you slam on the brakes in a slick environment, your brakes could lock up, causing you to lose control of the vehicle. Antilock brakes are a safety system designed to prevent this, executing braking in a series of rapid pulses to slow the vehicle without jeopardizing driver control.
4. Traction control. Similarly, traction control uses electronic control systems to ensure that tires can maintain traction even in the slickest environments.
5. Electronic stability control. Electronic stability control systems automatically take over when they detect the car is maneuvering erratically. It greatly minimizes the chance for certain types of accidents and rollovers.
6. Brake assist. Cars equipped with brake assist detect when a driver slams on the brakes for an emergency stop, then automatically applies the maximum brake force to stop faster.
7. Potential collision detection. There are several smaller features that work together in pursuit of the same goal: identifying potential collisions and avoiding them. Forward-collision warning (FCW) features rely on cameras, radar, LIDAR, or a combination of these to detect when a forward crash is likely. Pedestrian detection uses similar techniques to identify and automatically brake before hitting pedestrians. Blind spot warnings (BSWs) use illuminating lights on your sideview mirrors to let you know when vehicles are in your blind spots, preventing you from merging.
8. Backup cameras. The majority of modern cars are equipped with backup cameras, which allow drivers to see behind themselves when backing up. In addition to making parking much easier, it has the power to prevent countless accidents.
9. Autonomous features. There’s still an ongoing debate about< a href=”https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles-safety”>whether autonomous vehicles are safer than human-operated vehicles. Proponents of autonomous vehicles claim that the majority of accidents are caused by humans and that robots can fix this. Opponents claim that no technology is perfect, and improper use can cause more harm than good. Fully autonomous vehicles are still many years away, but modern cars are often equipped with semi-autonomous features like lane assist, automatic parking, and more.
10. Diagnostic features. If something goes wrong with your vehicle while you’re driving it, your chances of an accident increase precipitously. That’s why many cars are now equipped with diagnostic features to help you gauge variables like tire pressure.

Today’s vehicles are safer than any counterparts they’ve had in the past, and car safety features just keep getting better. Any new car you buy from a reputable manufacturer should have the majority of these features included by default, but don’t make assumptions; always make sure you understand the safety features included in your vehicle.