Purchasing a new car is quite exciting and a significant financial investment. Besides that, owning a car makes everyday life convenient, as one can easily commute within the city or even go on longer trips across the state or cross-country. While a car can bring many benefits, one must consider several other aspects before making the purchase. They must consider the various features—especially care safety features, performance, and other specifications.
Front and side airbags
One of the most essential safety features in new cars is front and side airbags. Their design has become quite sophisticated in recent years; they can now detect the driver’s and front passenger’s weight and position. This ensures they have a higher degree of safety in the car. Research has proven that even side-impact airbags significantly contribute to passenger safety in car accidents. The airbags provide a cushioning effect during an accident with the help of crash sensors connected to the car, lowering the probability of severe injury. The sensors are activated whenever they detect a frontal accident, and the airbags are inflated immediately. So, it is important to ensure this safety feature is included while buying a new car.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
This is one of the top car safety features to look for. The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, can help to be in better control of the car in situations where drivers have to decelerate the car suddenly. The system prevents the tires from locking up whenever the car’s speed has to be lowered immediately. Besides this, the ABS allows better maneuverability to prevent hazardous road conditions, such as collision accidents. The ABS works through the release and reapplication of the brakes to the wheels of the car. There are sensors in each wheel that detect the lock and enable the tires to slide when they suddenly stop moving. With this system, drivers can control the steering while braking the car.
Traction control systems
These electrically regulated systems are one of the best safety features in modern cars. It minimizes wheel spin during acceleration and ensures good traction on the wheels while driving. The traction control systems are useful to maintain safety when the car is being driven over slippery and wet roads or when an engine with high horsepower is used. In some cars, traction control works only at lower speeds; however, in most cases, the system is effective at all velocities. Besides, in nearly all cars, the traction control system works with the ABS to stop the wheel from spinning in situations of severe deceleration. In such cases, the performance is also maximized by transferring the power seamlessly from the engine to the drive wheel, preventing any spinning momentum. In many traction control systems, cutting-edge technology continuously adjusts the engine and transmission settings to ensure superior acceleration.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) is a must-have feature when purchasing a new car. It maintains the car’s stability during sudden maneuvers or while driving on slippery roads. It assists in keeping the car on a straight path so that there is no sliding or slipping during sudden turns. The system is managed by sensors that keep track of the wheel’s angular position, speed, rotation, and sideways movements. This means whenever the car goes off the intended course, the ESC stops one or more wheels for a short while. In some cases, it can also lower the engine’s power to keep the car on track. ESC is essential for top-heavy cars, like pickup trucks, to prevent the vehicle from rolling over when taking sharp turns.
Seat belts
A seatbelt is one of the must-have car safety features that save lives. Now, many cars have seatbelts with improved features that enable higher levels of safety. In the case of a frontal collision, seat belts are designed to instantly tighten the straps so that the slack is effectively absorbed. Along with this, seat belts also assist passengers and the driver in getting to the right position, ensuring maximum safety in airbag deployment. Force limiters and pre-tensioners in seat belts work in unison to regulate the shoulder belt’s pressure on a passenger’s chest, allowing the seat belt to exert minimal force when the pretensioners compress in the event of sudden braking or collision. Some cars also come with inflated seatbelts in the rear seats, which help minimize the belt’s impact by dispersing it over a large area. This ensures safety for more vulnerable passengers like seniors and children.
Blind spot monitoring
This is one of the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that uses sensors to detect other cars and objects in the driver’s blind spots. It provides crash prevention features in cars by sending alerts and avoiding collisions. The sensors are connected to cameras placed on the driver’s dashboard at the front. Using these, the driver can avoid crashing into another vehicle or object that would otherwise not be visible in the blind spot.