If you're looking to buy a new car, you might be interested in learning more about the safety features it offers first before buying. In today's world, cars are on a whole new level. Many offer a plethora of different and unique safety features that help keep you safe on the road. Here are 20 you should be prioritizing!
1. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
If you ever find yourself in a moment of panic on the road, the last thing you want to do is brake so suddenly and hard that your wheels lock up. After all, it can lead to a much more dangerous situation! But thanks to advanced technology, the addition of the Anti-lock Braking System helps to mitigate that. Stopping the wheels from locking up and reducing your risk of skidding, you can now better maintain control.
2. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Safety features in cars tend to get pretty wordy and unfamiliar to the vast majority, so let us break it down for you! The Electronic Stability Control is pretty straightforward and does exactly as it describes - in a scenario where you have to make an extreme turn (and have a risk of skidding or might lose traction), this features helps you maintain steering control by automatically applying the brakes to each individual wheel.
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3. Airbags
Of course, the most well-known safety feature that belongs in every car is the airbag. It's a crucial feature that saves lives! Providing you with protection and cushioning in the case of a crash, it's what helps reduce the overall impact for any and all passengers on board.
4. Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
A common safety feature seen in newer cars these days is the Lane Departure Warning. Having a rough morning where you're barely awake? This nifty feature might give you the wake up call you need. Alerting drivers who accidentally drift out of lane, it might just save your life if you're driving distracted or sleepy (which you should never be doing in the first place).
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5. Blind Spot Detection
We all know how important it is to pay attention to our blind spots when driving - shoulder check, shoulder check, shoulder check! That being said, sometimes having a little extra help never hurts. Blind Spot Detection is a great safety feature that helps drivers monitor areas that are hard to see. Although you always need to check with your own eyes, having this little warning system on hand can help you feel more reassured.
6. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
There are a lot of things you have to pay attention to when driving on the road, and one major thing you always need to be aware of is if you're keeping a safe following distance to the car in front. That's where Adaptive Cruise Control can lend a helping hand. Helping you to maintain this distance by automatically adjusting the car's speed, it's an extra tool that can help you feel safer on the road.
7. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
Depending on the situation, sometimes things just happen too quickly for us to react in time. During moments like these, you'll be thanking the Automatic Emergency Braking system in your car. Able to detect potential crashes and collisions, this feature is able to apply the brakes for you, possibly saving your life.
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8. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
How many of you remember to check your tire pressure every now and then? If you're one of the more forgetful types, having a Tire Pressure Monitoring System will definitely come in handy. Notifying you when the pressure is too low, it can save you from future accidents on the road.
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9. Rearview Camera
It goes without saying, all cars should have a rearview camera that allows drivers to feel safer and more comfortable when reversing! While of course, you still need to scan the environment with your own eyes, having these sensors that can alert you of obstructions or pedestrians can be immensely useful.
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10. Traction Control System (TCS)
The weather can be unpredictable, meaning sometimes, the road can be just as unpredictable too. Bumpy surfaces, slippery, and icy conditions can make it very dangerous to drive. That's why having a Traction Control System is a necessary addition to the safety features on your car; enhancing your car's stability and control by preventing wheel spin during acceleration, this is one tool you definitely want on board.
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11. Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Rather than stopping your vehicle and applying the brakes for you, Forward Collision Warning is more about giving you a heads up. Its sensors can detect whether there's a vehicle or object ahead, giving you clear warnings that you need to act. This is incredibly valuable as it might give you just enough time to react so you can avoid an accident.
12. Pedestrian Detection
Similar to a lot of the other detection systems already listed, the Pedestrian Detection system is pretty self-explanatory. Helping to warn the driver of pedestrians in the car's path (and sometimes more advanced ones can even detect cyclists!), it can help drivers feel safer paying attention to the road.
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13. Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
For some people, reversing or backing up can feel like the scariest part of driving. That's why safety features have been built, like the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert system, to help you feel safer! This feature kicks into gear whenever you're reversing your car, helping to identify any vehicles nearby or pedestrians. It's especially useful in tight spaces or parking lots!
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14. Automatic High Beams
We all know how important it is to have our headlights on at night, but during dangerous weather conditions where it's difficult to see, switching between low and high beams is very important. Allowing other drivers to see you so that everyone can be safer on the road, having these Automatic High Beams is definitely useful.
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15. Driver Attention Monitor
You should never be driving when you're feeling distracted, tired, or sleepy, but in an instance where you're already on the road and struggling to stay alert, having a Driver Attention Monitor will absolutely protect you. By analyzing your steering patterns and other factors, it can help detect whether you're currently in a bad state to drive.
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16. Head-Up Display (HUD)
The number one rule when it comes to driving is to always keep your eyes on the road, you should know this! To help ensure that you don't get distracted by other things in your car, that's where a Head-Up Display comes into play. Displaying important information onto the windshield, this allows you to keep your eyes where they should be - straight ahead.
17. Road Sign Recognition
Look, while common road signs should be familiar to you, sometimes information can be missed while we're driving. Sometimes, we're just paying too much attention to the road that you miss important information such as speed limits. Thanks to Road Sign Recognition, it uses your car's cameras to display important signs like speed limits, stop signs, and much more. This keeps you aware so you can drive more safely while following the traffic rules.
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18. Advanced Airbag Systems
Yes, we've already mentioned airbags, but thanks to advanced technology, you can expect so much more out of this safety feature nowadays. Advanced Airbag Systems are truly amazing, able to tailor the release of airbags based on the crash and where everyone is sitting in the car. That way, it guarantees that you'll be protected while simultaneously minimizing the injuries the airbag itself might cause.
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19. Night Vision Assist
Compared to driving in the daytime, we're all familiar to how much harder it can be driving in the night. It's not a surprise though, as the darker it gets outside, the harder it is to see things clearly! That's why Night Vision Assist can be extremely helpful, especially for those who struggle with nighttime driving. Using sensors to detect objects and pedestrians, it's a great way to help improve your ability to avoid hazards in the dark.
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20. Adaptive Headlights
Here's something a bit fancy and advanced; Adaptive Headlights actual move and change angles so you can better see curves and corners at night! It's a pretty amazing safety feature that lets drivers feel more comfortable navigating tricky roads when it's dark out.
