Road accidents kill 1.35 million people every year, according to the CDC. It is true some of these accidents result from reckless driving, overspeeding, or disregarding traffic regulations. However, we can attribute many of these accidents to a lack of vehicle safety features.
For this reason, buying a vehicle for its stylish looks or interior designs instead of safety features can be a mistake. A vehicle’s safety mechanisms not only help to prevent accidents but also protect the passengers.
The good news is recent consumer awareness, and government regulations have made modern cars much safer. Many vehicles now come equipped with the latest safety functions for driver assistance.
The question is, what are the essential safety features you need in your vehicle? Today, we are going to reveal five must-have car safety amenities that will ensure the safety of all vehicle occupants.
5 Safety Features You Should Look For In A Car
Without further ado, here are five safety facilities you should have in your car for the safety of passengers.
1. Airbags
Even though airbags seem a no-brainer, most vehicles come equipped with an airbag for the driver’s side. Consider adding more airbags for passengers to ensure their safety in a collision. A front-end vehicle collision usually results in the deployment of the driver and passenger airbags.
Car airbags have saved thousands of lives; however, they can injure or kill children or non-belted passengers. You should avoid fixing a rear-facing child seat in a front-facing airbag-equipped seat for children under 12.
Since 2007, adaptive, or dual-stage, front airbags have been standard equipment across the board. To minimize injury risk for drivers and front seats, modern airbags now detect the weight and seat position of front occupants and activate the airbags accordingly.
2. Blind-Spot Monitoring
With the help of either video feed or radar, blind-spot monitoring systems monitor areas that drivers cannot see from their rear-view or side mirrors. If it detects a car getting too close, it will notify the driver by beeping or providing visual cues. The vehicle with an advanced blind spot monitoring system may even be able to move to a safer distance.
Drivers who frequently travel on highways can benefit most from blind-spot monitoring. It will likely be standard equipment in most vehicles in the near future.
3. Lights
Every vehicle mainly has three lights: brake lights, turn signals, and headlights, which must work well. To ensure that the bulbs are in good working condition, you should check them regularly. A police car, ambulance, or firetruck must also have emergency vehicle lights installed on top of the vehicle.
When a bulb fails, you should replace it as soon as possible. If possible, install a powerful bulb or HIDs in your headlights if you frequently drive long distances at night.
4. Braking Assist Systems
Human beings react differently to emergencies than machines. When a driver fails to apply the brakes in an emergency fully, brake assist provides the extra push to braking. As soon as a driver presses the brake pedal, the brake-assist system initiates emergency braking.
Brake-assist systems may interact depending on how quickly a driver switches from accelerator to brake. Brake Assist typically works by setting a certain brake force threshold for your vehicle. When you slam the brakes (with the brake pedal not fully pushed) quickly enough, the electronic control unit (ECU) triggers and applies full brakes, assuming it is an emergency.
More advanced emergency braking systems are known as collision avoidance systems that slam the brakes automatically when a crash is imminent.
5. Lane-Keeping Systems
This safety feature aims to enable vehicle tracking within painted road lines. It is possible to hear an audible warning if the turn signal is off and the car veers to one side. These systems make minor steering adjustments to assist the drivers in maintaining the vehicle’s lane.
In some cases, a lane-keeping assist system can take over the steering wheel and gently assist you in steering back into your lane.
Final Thoughts
When searching for a new vehicle, finding the one that will keep you and your passengers safe is crucial. Inspect the car for these safety features before making the purchase. Keeping you safe on the road can be as simple as incorporating these five top safety facilities in your vehicle.
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