Approximately 6 million car accidents happen every year. Cars have come a long way in making drivers and passengers safer from the days when seat belts were a luxury option. The top feature people look for when purchasing a new car is safety, so it pays to know what safety features are important to your family.
How many lives have Air Bag Systems saved?
Between 1987, when air bags were first introduced, and 2008, frontal air bags have saved 25,782 lives. Many cars offer side air bags (SAB) technology, which is highlighted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They estimate that 700 to 1,000 lives per year could be saved if all vehicles were equipped with side air bags. Last, advanced Air Bag Systems contain sensors that detect the severity of a collision, the occupant's size, seat belt use and seating position. With this information, the system can adjust the level of power to the driver and passenger frontal air bags. This reduces the chance of injury from the deployment of the air bag.
How does my Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) keep me safe?
Your car's tires can only control the vehicle's movement when they are not skidding. ABS systems electronically apply the maximum possible brake power right up to the point before the brakes lock the wheels. In effect, the ABS system pumps the brakes faster than humanly possible, allowing the driver to maintain steering control and minimizing stopping distance.
What's a Crumple Zone?
Crumple zones are built into the structure of all modern cars to absorb the energy of a collision, reducing the strength of the impact before it reaches the occupants.
What does Electronic Stability Control (ESC) do?
This device is designed to sense extreme maneuvers and slippery roads, and assists the driver when a vehicle is starting to lose control. The NHTSA estimates that equipping all vehicles with ESC could reduce single-vehicle crashes of passenger cars by 26% and single-vehicle crashes of SUVs by 48%, and rollovers by 64% in passenger cars and 85% in SUVs.
What can a Positioning System (PS) do for me?
Vehicles equipped with a positioning system send a signal to a satellite that tracks the vehicle's location. This helps rescue teams to locate the vehicle in case of an emergency.
What to know about Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
A requirement for all new vehicles, this system features attachment points for LATCH-compatible child safety seats. The LATCH makes it easier to install child seats and reduces incompatibilities that arise from only using seat belts.
What everyone should know about Seat Belts and Systems
Seat belts are still the most important safety feature of all cars. According to studies at James Madison University, using seat belts could prevent 80% of all child deaths in vehicle collisions and up to 17,000 people every year. Naval Safety Center research shows that, of 32,598 crash fatalities in 2002 from automobile crashes, almost 60% were not wearing seat belts. That is why seat belt reminder systems, a requirement for all new vehicles, remind occupants to wear their seat belts. They include a four- to eight-second audible reminder for the driver and a warning light on the dashboard.
Good to know about Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
A tire is underinflated when its pressure is 25% less than recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Underinflated tires reduce gas mileage, increase tire wear and decrease traction. The TPMS implements a warning light on the dashboard to alert the driver if one of the vehicle's tires is significantly underinflated. All vehicles made since 2008 have TPMS.
If it's been a while since you've been in the market for a car, you can rest assured that many of the recent technological advances are designed to keep you and your family safe.
(reprinted from Allstate Insurance Anthony Losauro, Exclusive Agent (201) 670-0111)
