Is Your New Vehicle Driven to Safety?

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you’ll no doubt be asking lots of questions about the vehicle’s safety features. If not you should be.

Vehicle accidents account for more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Many of those might have been avoided with the use of certain safety features. Thankfully, there’s a new trend for improving vehicle safety in this country. This trend can be picked up by consumers by asking questions, doing research online, and even using the social media and marketing tools that automakers are deploying more and more of these days.

Here are some of the latest and greatest features that can help protect you and your family:

State Farm’s Steer Clear Program

State Farm’s Steer Clear Program is designed for newer drivers under the age of 25, with three years or less driving experience. The program necessitates watching a DVD, fulfilling a driver’s trip log, and pledging safe driving for the future, as well as other requirements. In exchange for successful completion of the program, State Farm customers receive a discount on their insurance premiums.

It’s a simple way for younger drivers to brush up on their road and vehicle knowledge while enjoying a discount reward in the process.

Air Bag Warning Lights

Most parents know better than to seat a young child weighing less than 50 pounds in the front of the vehicle. But just in case, many front car passenger seats are now equipped with weight sensors that let drivers know when the passenger side air bag is deactivated due to insufficient weight.

If the light is on, then the child is too small and should be seated in the back. Regardless of where the child is placed, working seat belts are essential. You can rebuild your seat belts inexpensively to ensure the safety of everyone in the vehicle.

Backing Up Cameras and Sensors

Unfortunately, it seems that every year smaller children are hurt or worse when a driver unwittingly backs into them. Drivers can’t see small children behind their bumper, and children playing in driveways or running loose in parking lots are susceptible to being unnoticed.

Backing up cameras and sensors give vision to drivers where they couldn’t see before. Anything in the way, including pets and bicycles causes the sensor to go off, alerting the driver to stop.

Automatic Headlights

In the past, drivers might have resisted turning on their headlights during dawn or dusk, due to the risk of forgetting to turn them back off again and returning to their vehicle to find a dead battery.

Since the advent of automatic headlights that turn off automatically after the engine has been shut down after a certain amount of time, drivers can feel comfortable leaving their headlights on all the time. This increases visibility and decreases the incidence of motor vehicle collisions.

Forward Collision Warning Systems

Some newer vehicles are equipped with forward collision warning systems that are designed to give an audible warning sound if your vehicle gets dangerously close to the vehicle in front of you, or even an inanimate object.

In these days of vehicle distraction, this system could make the difference between life and death.

As the following article looks at, when you’re ready to negotiate the price of a new car for you or a loved one, don’t forget to factor in any safety features the car may have.

The extra money to get those features is worth more than any amount you may save on another vehicle.

And along the way, do your research (including using marketing and social media tools) so that you’re knowledgeable about the vehicle you’re about to call your ride for years to come.

About the Autho: Kate Supino writes about best business practices, including programs and products put in place to protect the health and safety of consumers.