For some people, the thought process behind buying a car is not based on safety the way it should be. They want their car to not only be comfortable and attractive, but also fit their personality and lifestyle. Unfortunately, the attractiveness and comfortability of a car is not what is going to keep a driver safe. When safety becomes a consideration, shopping for a new car takes on a different perspective.
Car accidents happen every day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were almost 39,000 fatalities and over 2.2 million injuries from car accidents in 2020. With safety in mind, the idea of shopping for the safest car is more than tenable, yet the actual process of doing so can seem overwhelming. That is why it is important to have an understanding of how you can make your car-buying experience easier. Moreover, it is important you are confident that the next car you buy is going to have the best chance of keeping you safe.
Two main agencies that supply yearly car safety ratings are the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the IIHS is nonprofit agency supported by automobile insurance companies and related associations.
For the NHTSA, you can go to their site and follow a simple procedure in which you will provide the car’s year, make, and model. After receiving the NHTSA’s star rating for that particular vehicle, you can delve further to find out the details of how your car fared in specific tests and how those tests are conducted.
The IIHS safety ratings can be found on their site. Enter the same information you would on the NHTSA site. The IIHS site will actually provide more information about advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking.
What Are Important Car Safety Features to Check?
The agencies listed above are going to provide information about how cars scored on crash tests. They will also give detailed information about certain specific safety features. It is important to read the full report to give you the best idea of a car’s safety.
Important car safety features to check include:
- Structural soundness: This is a car’s ability to absorb and disperse the energy created by a crash.
- Accident voidance: This is a car’s ability to help prevent a crash using a combination of safety features and braking systems.
- Anti-lock braking system: This gives a driver better traction and control by preventing the wheels from locking when pressure is applied to the brake pedal.
Other important features to check are the airbags, seat belts, resistance to rollovers, and roof strength. When considering a car, it is also wise to research what advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are available for that specific car. ADAS are designed to assist drivers in avoiding an accident.
ADAS use sensors, cameras, and computer software that sense potential dangers, alerting the driver or operating the vehicle to avoid an accident. Examples are the forward and rear collision warning systems and the blind-spot warning system. These systems monitor traffic around you and give off a warning to avoid a crash. In some instances, they can actually brake or steer your car away from danger.
Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Represent Those Injured in Car Crashes
If you have been injured in a car accident, talk with one of our experienced Media car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. Call us at 610-565-3701 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we proudly serve the communities of Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.