We are all aware of the fact that any time we get behind the wheel of a car and head onto the roadways we could be involved in a collision that causes injury and property damage. Even if you’re an extremely cautious, safe, and experienced driver yourself, you just never know what awaits you, from drunk or distracted drivers to black ice or animals running into the path of your moving vehicle. And while you can reasonably rely on your seatbelts, airbags, and other safety features up front to keep you safe, you might be more than a little worried about what could happen to other family members in the vehicle, especially children, in the event of an automobile accident. For this reason, you’re probably interested in finding out more about the many new safety features that are available or that will soon become available. Here are a few essential safety features that you might want to look for when purchasing your next family car.
- Curtain airbags. These are not new, but they’re also not standard on every vehicle, so you definitely want to ask about them when searching for a new car. These side airbags help to protect the driver and passengers in case of an impact on the side of the vehicle. They roll down (or up, in some cases) to cover the window area, decreasing the amount of debris that may fly into the car and protecting the head and limbs of the driver and passengers. Although many accidents occur in the front or rear of the car, it’s not at all uncommon for side impact to occur, and you want to make sure anyone in the car is protected in the event of this type of collision.
- Shoulder straps. Although most modern cars now come with shoulder belts up front, and many have them in the back seat, as well, you may want to make sure there is one available for every seat, even the middle one in the back, if you’re transporting your family. It’s important to make sure that these belts are properly adjusted so they don’t pose any kind of hazard for smaller passengers. But they could help to prevent whiplash and other injuries in a collision.
- Adaptive headlights. This product is designed to increase visibility at night or during inclement weather, and it is especially useful when rounding corners or cresting hills. According to findings released by the Highway Loss Data Institute, this product alone caused a drop in liability claims related to property damage by 10%.
- Autonomous braking. One of the most common types of accidents is rear-ending, and even if you leave plenty of room when following another vehicle, you simply may not see an accident coming in time to apply adequate braking to avoid it. And if you’re fiddling with the stereo, taking a drink of coffee, or chatting with the kids in the back seat, your response time may be delayed. Autonomous braking accounts for this by hitting the brakes for you in order to avoid a collision or at least lessen the impact.
- Sensors and cameras. Some cars now feature sensors on the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle that set off warning alarms when you’re too close to other objects. Some give your car’s computer the data it needs to park itself, even in tight spots. And many vehicles are coming out with cameras that can help drivers to back up or see a blind spot when switching lanes. This advanced car safety features not only help you to avoid collisions and keep your family safe, but they also provide the convenience that modern drivers want. So when you head to Nissan of San Marcos or Audi Westlake, consider the many new safety features that could protect the people in your car. When it comes to your family, it’s best to take every precaution.
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