According to the CDC, road accidents are the leading cause of death for people under 54 years in the US. Around the world, there are more than 3,700 fatalities each day. Most of these accidents are by cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles. To address the problem, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 74/299. The UN declared the decade 2021 to 2030 as the “Decade for Road Safety.”
Car accidents are unfortunate and mostly avoidable. You can play your part in making the roads safer this decade. Begin by signing up for a refresher road safety course. Then install the following safety features in your car. They have been tested and proven effective.
Golden oldie car safety features
Cars have evolved tremendously. Modern automobiles are faster, easier to handle, and safer. Car safety features have also advanced significantly. Most of the modern safety features apply advanced electronic and computing technology to keep you safer.
Nevertheless, some of the early car safety features are still invaluable. Early inventions such as seat belts, airbags, and Anti-locking Braking Systems (ABS) have undergone a few modifications and improvements. However, they are excellent life-savers in any modern automobile.
Standard modern cars come with the following traditional safety features:
- Three-point seat belt for the driver and all passenger seats.
- Front, side, and knee airbags to cushion the vehicle occupants in case of a crash.
- Anti-locking Braking System to give the driver better control when driving on wet or slippery surfaces.
Modern technologies in car safety give the driver better control of the vehicle, improve the car’s stability, and help to avoid collisions. Some of the features have smart technologies that could prevent a driver from making wrong decisions. Here’s a look at the car safety features you must have in a modern car.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
The ESC is a development of the ABS. It monitors and detects loss of traction to a car’s tires. The system automatically applies brakes and helps the driver steer the vehicle on wet and slippery surfaces. The feature also monitors tire pressure, and in case it drops below the designated level, it alerts the driver.
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) and brake assist (BA)
The AEB is an electronic system that alerts the driver when it detects a pedestrian or an object along the path. The system first sends an audio warning to the driver. If the driver does not stop, the system will automatically apply the brakes to avoid a crash or reduce collision speed.
Marc Shuman of Shuman Legal car accident lawyers explains that brake assist works with the ABS in case the driver applies emergency brakes: “The system helps to reduce vehicle speed and bring it to a stop without locking the wheels. It’s a fantastic safety feature.”
Forward collision warning (FCW) and pedestrian detection
The forward collision warning feature uses cameras or sends light signals to scan cars approaching your vehicle in your lane. The system sends an audio warning to the driver to warn of the imminent crash. The pedestrian detection system works like the FCW. But it uses cameras to scan if there are pedestrians in the vehicle’s path. If it detects any, it warns the driver through an audio message.
Both FCW and the pedestrian detection systems work in conjunction with the AEB and BA to help the driver stop the car. Several other vehicle safety features use traffic detection principles to enhance your safety. They include rear cameras, rear-cross traffic warning, and blind-spot warning systems (BSW).
Lane departure warning (LDW) and lane-keeping assist (LKA)
Sometimes when you are on the expressway, you may unknowingly steer off your lane. If you steer from your lane without turning on the signal, the lane departure warning will warn you. The system scans and monitors lane markers on the road. It sends a chime or vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver. According to research by the IIHS, this feature could have cut road traffic accidents by 85,000 and reduced injuries by more than 55,000 in 2015.
The lane-keeping assist also detects road markings to keep you in the correct lane. However, it automatically steers you back to the right lane. Both LDW and LKA don’t work very well on snow-covered surfaces.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
The adaptive cruise control operates like the lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist feature. However, it will not just keep you in the correct lane. The system monitors the distance between your car and the car in front. If you come too close, it will automatically reduce your speed and bring the vehicle to a complete halt. When traffic resumes, the system restarts your vehicle and brings it to cruising speed when it is safe. It is almost like a self-driving car.
Why you should install these features
These safety features improve your ability to control the vehicle and keep you alert when you are vulnerable to cause a car accident. Apart from boosting your safety and reducing chances of fatality and injury, they can significantly bring down your insurance costs and can be instrumental in case of litigation. Reach out to a reputable dealer and upgrade the safety features in your car.
