Did you know there were around 15.5 million light vehicle sales in the U.S. last year? That figure includes around 3.12 million enger cars and less than 12.4 million light trucks.
If you’re in the market for a new or new-to-you car with the latest safety features, you’ll want to consider the best technologies available. Far too many accidents occur on the roads these days — and many of these incidents are due to driver error. Foolish mistakes can lead to severe injuries requiring visits to the doctor, physiotherapy appointments, and personal injury claims.
Whether looking for a car, SUV, crossover, truck, van, or another vehicle type, you’ll want to look for one with these six safety features.
1. Blind Spot Monitoring
When driving a car, you need to be mindful of blind spots. Some vehicles offer greater visibility than others. Good visibility is essential since you must see other motorists and pedestrians on the road. If you’re in the market for a new car, look for safety tech like blind spot monitoring. It’s an advanced driving assistance program that will alert you if someone or something is in your blind spot. The notification can be audible, visual, tactile, or vibrating.
You’ll feel much safer with blind spot monitoring since it’s like having an extra set of eyes.
2. Lane Keeping Assist
Another must-have safety feature for your new car is a lane keeping assist system. It’ll gently nudge you back into your lane should you start to drift into another lane. You’ll get alerts through steering wheel vibrations or other means.
3. Automatic Parking Technology
Do you hate having to reverse park or parallel park your car? If you have a vehicle with automatic parking technology, those fears will be a thing of the past. Vehicles with automatic parking technology use strategically placed sensors and advanced technology to park autonomously, meaning you won’t have to fret about doing so independently.
4. Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic emergency braking is another essential safety feature. When you have a car with this technology, the vehicle will automatically apply the brakes to avoid colliding with a car ahead of you. So, if you don’t slam on the brakes quickly enough to avert danger, a vehicle with automatic emergency braking capabilities will activate the brakes. Some advanced automatic braking systems will activate to avoid colliding not only with cars but also with cyclists and pedestrians.
5. Rear Cross Traffic Warning
The rear cross-traffic warning feature is helpful in cases where you’re reversing your vehicle. When reversing, the vehicle will alert you if cars are approaching you from whatever angle. You’ll love this feature if driving in a busy area with lots of vehicles or foot traffic.
6. Adaptive Cruise Control
While all cars have cruise control, only some have adaptive cruise control. With traditional cruise control, you accelerate to the speed you want, hit the cruise control button, and the car will maintain that speed until you tap on the brake or acceleration pedal.
But with adaptive cruise control, the car will brake or accelerate as necessary to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. The great thing is that the adaptive cruise control system will keep the speed you want until adjustments are needed — and it’ll accelerate back to your desired speed when it’s safe to do so.
Considering that the average cost for a new American brand vehicle last year was $57,062, you can appreciate that buying a car requires a substantial financial investment. Getting a vehicle with all the best safety features may cost more. But if you want to be as safe as possible on the road, buying a new car with the best safety tech is one way to accomplish this goal.