Safety Features to Consider When Buying a New Vehicle
March 7, 2016
Vehicles today have more technology than ever before. While many advancements focus on entertainment and creature comforts, automakers are also offering many new safety features as well. In this article, we take a look at some of the latest and most important safety features to consider when buying a new car, truck, van, or SUV. For any questions, or need immediate legal council, call Jodat Law Group, your Sarasota Auto Accident Lawyers.
Recent Innovations in Vehicle Safety
These days, we are constantly hearing about new and innovative safety features from a variety of different manufacturers. Some of the most recent options to hit the market include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control – Adaptive cruise control systems use sensors to adjust your speed to maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you.
- Adaptive Headlights – Adaptive headlights help drivers see around bends in the road.
- Autonomous Braking – If you are about to collide with another vehicle or a stationary object, autonomous braking systems will slow your vehicle even if you don’t press the brakes.
- Crash Avoidance Systems – Some cars are also equipped with sensors that can predict a potential crash and provide a warning to the driver.
- Lane Assist – If you are changing lanes or merging into traffic, a lane assist system will alert you to vehicles in your blind spot.
- Reverse Cameras and Back-Up Sensors – With a reverse camera, you can see what is directly behind you. In vehicles with back-up sensors, you will see or hear a warning before you cause a rear-end accident.
NHTSA’s Recommendations for Avoiding Rollover Accidents
As we have previously discussed, one of the most dangerous types of accidents is a vehicle rollover. Some manufacturers now offer safety features specifically designed to help avoid these often-fatal collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends:
- Electronic Stability Control – With electronic stability control, your vehicle’s computer will counteract swerves and over-steering to help keep you safely on the road.
- Rollover (Side-Curtain) Airbags – Side airbags that inflate over a vehicle’s windows can provide critical protection in the event of a rollover. Notably, they also help to prevent ejections, which are the leading cause of death in rollover accidents.
- Variable Ride-Height Suspension – Some SUVs and other vehicles come equipped with a feature known as variable ride-height suspension. This feature allows for lowering of a vehicle’s ride height during travel, which reduces its center of gravity.
How Safe Is Your Vehicle?
If you are concerned about your current vehicle’s safety or are considering purchasing a used vehicle, there are several sources of information available online. For a particularly useful, data-driven resource, check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s statistics on fatalities by make and model.
Sarasota Accident Lawyers
Jodat Law Group is a Florida law firm with experienced Sarasota Accident Lawyers that that helps auto accident victims throughout the greater Tampa area fight for maximum compensation. To find out if you may be entitled to a financial recovery for your collision-related injuries, schedule a free consultation today.