Car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for many people across the world. It is no wonder that safety is a top priority when choosing a new vehicle.
In fact, research shows that new car owners place a premium on safety when making their purchases. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 67% of new car owners consider vehicle safety one of their top three priorities when purchasing a car.
There have been many advancements in car safety features in recent years. While no car is completely accident-proof, some features can help reduce the severity of an accident or even help avoid one altogether.
So, what are some of the car safety features that can help you avoid a car accident? Read on to find out.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control is a feature that uses sensors to automatically adjust the speed of your car to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you, even if the vehicle is traveling at a different speed.
This can help reduce rear-end accidents as it takes the guesswork out of how much space to leave between you and the car in front, especially in stop-and-go traffic.
Adaptive cruise control is a relatively new feature, and as such, it is not available in all vehicles. However, it is becoming increasingly common in newer models, especially luxury cars.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic emergency braking is another feature that uses sensors to detect when a collision is imminent and automatically applies the brakes to help avoid or reduce the severity of an accident.
According to Consumer Reports, this safety feature can potentially avoid or mitigate the severity of frontal collisions, which account for a significant number of car accidents each year.
Automatic emergency braking is not as common as some other safety features, but it is becoming more widely available, especially in newer vehicles.
Rearview Camera
A rearview camera is a feature that allows the driver to see what is behind the vehicle when backing up. The camera is usually mounted on the back of the car and provides a live feed to a display screen inside the car.
This is a helpful safety feature as it allows the driver to see any obstacles behind the car, even if they are not in the driver’s line of sight. This can help avoid accidents when backing up, especially in crowded areas or when children or pets are present.
Rearview cameras are required in all new cars and trucks as of May 2018, so this feature will likely become more and more common in the coming years.
Blind Spot Monitoring
Blind-spot monitoring is a feature that uses sensors to detect when another vehicle is in your car’s blind spot and alerts the driver with a warning light or an audible sound.
This is a helpful safety feature as it can help avoid accidents when changing lanes, especially on busy highways. Blind-spot monitoring is becoming increasingly common in newer vehicles, especially luxury cars.
The blind spot monitoring technology uses sensors, usually mounted on the side mirrors, to detect when another vehicle is in your car’s blind spot. The system typically emits a warning sound or light to alert the driver when a vehicle is detected.
The warning becomes even more critical if you try to change lanes while someone is in your blind spot. In some cases, the system will even prevent you from changing lanes if a vehicle is in your blind spot.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alerts
The rear cross-traffic alert system is similar to the blind spot monitoring system, but it is designed to help you when backing up rather than when changing lanes.
The rear cross-traffic alert system uses sensors, usually mounted on the back bumper, to detect when a vehicle is approaching from either side while you are backing up.
The system typically emits a warning sound or light to alert the driver when a vehicle is detected. This is a helpful safety feature as it can help avoid accidents when backing up, especially in crowded areas or when children or pets are present.
Rear cross-traffic alerts are becoming increasingly common in modern cars, especially luxury models.
Lane Departure Warning
Lane departure warning is a feature that uses sensors to detect when a car is veering out of its lane and will provide a visual or auditory alert to the driver to help avoid an accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this feature has been shown to reduce accidents by as much as 24%.
Lane departure warning is not as common as some other safety features, but it is becoming more widely available, especially in newer vehicles.
Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Centering Assist
Closely related to lane departure warning are lane keeping assist and lane centering assist. These features use sensors and cameras to detect when a car is veering out of its lane and automatically steer it back into the center of the lane.
Lane-keeping assist is designed to help avoid accidents, while lane-centering assist provides a more comfortable and efficient driving experience by keeping the car centered in its lane.
Lane-keeping assist and lane centering assist are not as common as some other safety features, but they are becoming more widely available, especially in newer vehicles.
All-Season Tires
Some car manufacturers equip their vehicles with all-season tires. While this may seem like a relatively minor feature, all-season tires can actually provide a significant safety benefit, especially in winter weather.
All-season tires are designed to provide good traction in various conditions, including wet weather and light snow. They are not as effective in deep snow or ice as winter tires but can still provide a significant safety benefit.
If you live in an area where winter weather is a concern, all-season tires may be a good option.
Automatic Headlights and Daytime Running Lights
Another safety feature that is becoming increasingly common in newer vehicles is automatic headlights. Automatic headlights turn on the headlights when it gets dark or when the windshield wipers are turned on, providing better visibility for the driver.
Daytime running lights are another type of headlight designed to improve visibility. Daytime running lights are usually brighter than traditional headlights and are designed to be used during the day.
Both automatic headlights and daytime running lights can help improve visibility for the driver and help avoid accidents.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
The tire pressure monitoring system is a feature that uses sensors to detect when a tire is low on air and will provide a warning to the driver.
This is a helpful safety feature as it can help prevent flats and blowouts, which can cause accidents. The tire pressure monitoring system is required on all new cars in the United States.
The Best Safety Feature Is Safe Driving
The truth is that no safety feature can guarantee that you will never be in an accident. The best safety feature is a safe driver.
Safe driving habits, such as obeying the speed limit, wearing seat belts, and not distracted driving, are the best way to avoid accidents. No safety feature can replace safe driving habits.
After all, research shows that more than 90% of car accidents happen due to human error. So, driving safely is the best way to stay safe on the road.
Final Thoughts
While these car safety features are essential, the best safety feature is safe driving. No technology can replace common sense and be aware of your surroundings while behind the wheel.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it has encouraged you to get your car serviced so you can stay safe on the roads.
Made it to the end? Here are other articles you might find helpful:
9 Car Maintenance Tips to Prevent Accidents