A car is a big purchase. Buying a car can be a confusing and frustrating process. There are a lot of factors that go into selecting the perfect car. These include size, features, function, color, and gas mileage. However, perhaps the most important factor of all is vehicle safety. If you get into an accident, you want to make sure your vehicle will be able to protect you and keep you safe. It is good to know what safety features to look for so that you can choose a safe vehicle.
How-to Choose a Safe Vehicle: Knowing What to Look For
Crash Test Scores
First, when choosing a safe vehicle, you will want to consider the crash test ratings. Pay attention to terms like “Top Safety Picks” and “five-star crash ratings”. The crash test rating looks at various things that can reduce your risk of serious injury or death in the event of an accident. It will include factors like the car’s sides, roof strength, head restraints, and even the type of seats. It also looks at how a vehicle performs in actual crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) has a New Car Assessment Program. They created the 5-Star Safety Ratings Program to provide consumers with information about the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles beyond what is required by Federal law. Their rating system is based on a system of one to five stars. One star is the lowest rating while five stars is the highest. The more stars a vehicle has, the safer it is.
Features
Cars manufactures are coming out with new, advanced auto safety features over time. Many of these are driver assist features. Some of these include warning systems like forward collision warning and lane departure warning. This also includes rear back-up cameras, blind-spot monitoring systems and automatic braking. These will help reduce your risk of being involved in an accident.
Other safety equipment provides protection and reliability on the road. When purchasing a vehicle, especially an older one, check for air bags, seat belts, and a tire pressure monitoring system. All of these features are things you want in a safe vehicle.
While the car shopping process can be overwhelming and frustrating at times, the most important thing is to out yourself and your family into a safe vehicle. By looking at things like crash test ratings and advanced safety features, you will be able to make an informed decision when selecting a new vehicle.