Automotive Safety Features
When purchasing a new or used car, safety features are one of the most important things we take into consideration. Unfortunately, there are so many conflicting opinions about certain safety features, such as airbags, that it can make the process of car-buying frustrating and downright confusing.
Much has been written on airbags over the years, and whether or not they present a danger to small children. While it is true that airbag deployment has caused dozens of deaths and countless injuries, most of those tragedies took place prior to 2003, which is when auto manufacturers began phasing-in a new type of airbag, commonly referred to as "smart airbags". These "smart airbags" (also known as dual-stage or multi-stage airbags) rely on sensors which, based on the size and body position of the occupant, deploy with varying degrees of force. Over the years, smart airbag technology has improved so much that by 2006 these next-generation airbags became required in all light-duty vehicles. In other words, unless you drive a dump truck, there's a good chance that your 2006-or-later vehicle utilizes this technology.
Not all airbags are created equal, however. Most newer cars have front and side airbags as well as curtain airbags, which are designed to deploy from above in order to protect the occupant's head. Curtain airbags are already standard equipment in many vehicles, including most models by luxury manufacturers like Acura, BMW and Infinity. Surprisingly, however, this safety feature is also standard in many lower-priced vehicles manufactured by Honda and Kia. To get the most out of any airbag, it must be used in conjunction with seat belts. According to a recent NHTSA report, an airbag's effectiveness increases 40% if seat belts are in use.
Seat belts are another safety feature which has undergone public scrutiny in recent years. While it is always a good idea to wear a seat belt, it is important to make sure that your vehicle has the right kind of seat belt to suit your family's needs. Look for seat belts with shoulder harnesses for your back seat, as you would expect to find in the front seats. Since modern seat belts depend on motion sensors to work, it is important to have a professional examine the vehicle's seat belts on a yearly basis to make sure that they are working properly.
Tires are a safety feature often overlooked by vehicle owners. While a vehicle's tires may look safe to the casual observer, it takes a skilled technician to determine just how safe a car's tires really are. When buying tires, always choose the tire which has been recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. The owner's manual will provide you with this information, as well as guidelines for proper tire inflation. Never choose an off-brand or discounted tire for your vehicle, or a tire which is not the recommended variety for your vehicle. A vehicle can have all the safety features in the world, but without a safe tire these features are meaningless.
Many car-buyers lean towards new models believing that they are safer, since many new models come with features like tire-pressure monitors, blind-spot detectors, and even rear-view cameras. Features which seemed futuristic even a few short years ago are now being made standard in vehicles that are already on the road. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required that all vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less be equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system by the 2008 model year.
Adaptive cruise control is being offered in many 2009 models, which is a feature that can automatically adjust acceleration and braking in order to maintain a safe distance between vehicles. Dynamic braking, a system currently available on several BMW models, is designed to apply additional braking pressure when a driver makes a sudden stop, thereby shortening the braking distance. Other unique and futuristic features currently being offered are infrared headlights (which can greatly improve night vision), roll-over prevention systems (available in many Ford and GM sport-utility vehicles), and even lane-departure warning alarms.
Some safety features are just plain useless, however. Rain-sensing windshield wipers have been know to spring into life unexpectedly, or at the slightest trace of a sprinkle. This is a great feature to have if you find that it takes too much effort to switch on your wipers by yourself. Voice navigation systems bark out orders like a rude backseat driver, telling you when and where to turn. Why pay hundreds of dollars extra for this feature, when you can simply put your mother-in-law in the backseat for free? Volvo has even developed a system that can detect someone's presence inside of a vehicle, which can then alert the vehicle's owner by way of a signal transmitted to the owner's keyfob. Apparently Sweden has a high incidence of squatters who like to take up residence in the backseats of mid-priced luxury sedans.
Unfortunately, many of these high-tech features can produce a false feeling of security, fooling a driver into thinking that their vehicle is essentially crashproof. They also add thousands of dollars to the price tag. While many of these features are nice to have, they aren't essential to a safe automobile. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that a vehicle's available safety features are properly inspected and maintained. After all, a faulty airbag does no good if it cannot deploy and tires become a safety threat if they are improperly inflated. A car's most important safety feature has always been, and always will be, the person behind the wheel.
