Modern cars are jam packed with safety features that help protect drivers and passengers on roadways. While many important safety features are now required on newer vehicles, such as airbags, electronic stability control, safety belts, child-safety locks and seat systems, some car manufacturers are going above and beyond.
Brad Parker says, “Since my daughters were teenagers, safety features have come a long way. When I did shop for vehicles for my girls, I researched the cars’ crashworthiness according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I was also concerned about what types of air bag curtains they had.”
Here are a handful of the latest car safety features saving lives across the nation’s roads:
Adaptive Cruise Control
The adaptive cruise control is based on information from on-board sensors. Such systems may use a radar or laser sensor setup allowing the vehicle to brake when it detects the car is approaching another vehicle ahead, then accelerate when traffic allows it to.
360-Degree Vision
This newer feature stitches together several cameras to make up for blind spots both in front and at the back of cars.
Adaptive Headlights
Great for improving visibility around curves, these headlights pivot toward the direction you’re traveling.
Pedestrian Detection Alert
Using mostly infrared light, this alert will tell the driver of any passers-by and bicycle users on its path.
Lane Departure Alert
One of the most severe forms of car crashes is usually due to lane diversion. The near future models are fitted with the ability to either alert the driver or redirect the vehicle to the original lane to avoid a collision.
Forward Collision Warning
Forward-facing sensors are utilized to monitor distance and relative speed between vehicles. If the system senses an impending crash, it will alert you with sound, visual cues or physical sensations such as a vibration of the steering wheel.
Blind Spot Detection
Sometimes when driving, vehicles behind you or beside you aren’t seen because they are travelling in your blind spot. This can cause a collision if you try to change lanes. Blind spot monitoring systems visually alert you when a vehicle is traveling in your blind spot. Those alerts become brighter or louder if you signal to change lanes.
Backup Cameras
These cameras help drivers avoid collisions when the car is in reverse or when parking. There are even some back-over protection systems in some cars to automatically brake to avoid collision.
“All the modern safety features in cars are great, but there is one thing that can absolutely decrease the risk of an accident…staying off the cell phone. That goes for hands-free too. If you’re talking on a cell phone, you aren’t paying as good attention as you would off the phone. When using a cell phone, you are never truly disengaged,” Brad says. “Speed also plays a huge factor. Put that and the phone together, and you get a double lethal dose for drivers.”
Safest Bets on the Road
Here is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) list of the safest vehicles to buy in 2020.
- Honda Civic coupe, sedan and hatchback (excluding Type R)
- Hyundai Elantra
- Hyundai Elantra GT
- Hyundai Veloster
- Kia Forte
- Kia Soul
- Subaru Crosstrek
- Subaru Impreza sedan and wagon
- Subaru WRX
- Toyota Corolla hatchback and sedan
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Sonata
- Nissan Altima
- BMW 3 Series
- Volvo S60
- Kia Stinger
- Audi A7
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Ford Escape
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Kona
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Sportage
- Lexus UX
- Lincoln Corsair
- Toyota RAV4
- Volvo XC40
- Ford Edge
- Hyundai Palisade
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Kia Sorento
- Kia Telluride
- Mazda CX-9
- Subaru Ascent
- Lexus RX
- Audi Q8
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Area Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free consultation. We help car accident victims throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.
At Parker Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers believe people matter. We are committed to our clients, not case numbers, and we believe in the power of the civil justice system. With years spent both representing accident victims and participating in the state legislative process, our founder, Brad Parker, has developed a deep understanding of the law and gained unique experience that helps him get results for his clients.
