Car Safety Features

When looking for a car do not just ignore the safety highlights, for example its stability control and anti-lock brake systems are good also investments.  Although the best thing to do to save you life is to buckle up your seat belt.  Safety belts have saved a lot of lives and mostly have been redesigned adding advanced safety features and making people feel safer.  There are more safety gears that have proven their worth on the road, like air bags, anti-lock breaks, brake assistants, traction control, electronic stability control, safety belt feature and Low Anchor Tethers for Children.

  • > Air Bags

Air bags—a standard on all new vehicle, it is a device that has crash sensors wired to an on-board computer that triggers an air bag during collision.  The bag inflates automatically in a blink of an eye, and then immediately starts deflating.

Car air bag

Car air bag

Some air bags detect the presence, height, and seat position of the driver and the front passenger.  Side-impact air bags for front seat passengers are getting more common, and some car manufacturers are even integrating them for rear seat passengers.

  • >Anti-Lock Breaking System

Before anti-locks break built, lock the wheels during hard braking where a common scenario, particularly on slippery surfaces.  ABS stopped this from happening.  Anti-lock brakes employ wheel speed sensors on the wheels monitored by a computer during a breaking action.  With ABS it allows the driver to retain steering control while braking, allowing the car to be steered around obstacles when needed.

Brake assistant senses the speed or the pressure the break pedal is depressed, it analysis if the driver wants to make an emergency stop.  If so it activates the ABS and boosts the brake pressure.  Brake assist is available on most modern cars.

  • >Traction Control

The traction control system limits the wheel spin in order for the drive wheels to have maximum traction, which is useful in wet or icy conditions.  Some traction controls only function on low speeds, while others operate at most speeds.  Most low-speed traction control systems use the cars anti-lock break system.  The systems detects wheel spin while the accelerating on a slippery road, and momentarily applies the brakes to the slipping wheel,   this stops the slipping wheel and instantly shifts the power to the opposite drive wheel.

  • >Safety Belts

Safety belts—undeniably the most vital piece of safety equipment. Safety belt have been enhanced with more features to be efficiently.  Like adjustable upper anchors for the shoulder and belts that make a significant safety difference.  They help position the belt across the chest instead of the neck to prevent neck injuries.  Seat belt pretensioners also retract instantly to take up slack during impact and instantly deploying an air bag.

  • >Electronic Stability Control

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) the system that assist the vehicle to keep on the right track during a turn to avoid sliding or skidding.  ESC is very effective in providing control in slippery conditions steering from accidents.  ESC first were introduced on luxury cars and have been introduced to SUV’s and many other vehicles, which helps the vehicle from getting into situations where it could roll over.

  • > Low Anchors and Tethers for Children and Telematics

Low Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) is a system that helps child-seat installation by putting a standard to a child safety-belt installation.  The system features a built-in lower anchor and top tether attachment points which allows a LATCH-compatible child safety seat to be placed without utilizing the vehicles safety-belt system. There are a number of cars and trucks whose LATCH system is laborious to use, so try before you buy a new child seat.

Another car safety feature is Telematics, which combines the standard cellular telephone and a GPS to provide extra security and more convenience during emergencies should anything arise.


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