Which Car Safety Features Should Be Enabled?

You should use all of your car’s safety features if possible. For decades, the automotive industry has been working to make cars safer. Some newer vehicle models have safety features you may not even notice. Backed by research and data collected from real-world accidents, safety features in vehicles have a single purpose: to reduce injuries and prevent death.

Every car safety feature is essential. Some have been around for a long time, like airbags and seat belts, while others are fairly new. Here are some of the most critical safety features that may be in your car.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Tire pressure monitoring systems are integrated into most cars today. In the past, they were an add-on feature you could purchase, but most newer cars include them, and you will receive an alert on the dash if something goes wrong.

This safety feature monitors both your tire pressure and temperature. Tires are crucial to the safe operation of your vehicle, and if they get too hot or have too much air in them, they could explode, causing severe car accidents.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control is a relatively new technology that allows you to set your car’s cruise control as normal. However, it will change speed based on the rate of vehicles in front of you so you do not have to hit the brakes or turn off cruise control.

When you get into the passing lane to pass a slower car, the adaptive cruise control automatically speeds back up to your preset settings. This safety feature helps avoid high-speed accidents.

Facial Recognition Software

Facial recognition software has been around for some time. What does it do? It keeps an eye on the driver, and if they appear to be losing focus, the car will beep at the driver to retain their focus on driving. This can help reduce accidents caused by distracted and drowsy driving.

Automatic Emergency Braking System

Automatic emergency braking systems work to reduce rear-end collisions. Cameras mounted all over your car detect when you rapidly approach a vehicle in front of you and automatically apply the brakes. This same approach is also used in rear backup cameras.

Lane Departure Warning

Lane departure warning alerts you if you veer out of your lane. While you should always pay attention to the road, some people may glance down at their phones or attempt to break up a fight between children in the back seat. When their eyes leave the road, they could start to swerve out of their lane. This safety feature will provide an immediate alert to let the driver know they need to take action.

Blind-Spot Monitoring

Blind-spot monitoring is a safety feature that uses radar to let you know when a car is in your blind spot. This safety feature can reduce sideswipe accidents, as the car alerts you when trying to change lanes and someone is in your blind spot.

Side View Cameras

Side view cameras and blind-spot monitoring can prevent sideswipe accidents. When you use your turn signal, your dash will display a video image of that side of your car. A tiny camera is mounted under each side view mirror that shows you your blind spots, giving you additional information about any vehicles in the lane next to you.

Airbags

Additional airbags are constantly being placed in cars today. There are sidewall airbags and even airbags inside some seats. While disabling these safety features is complex, it is still possible but not recommended.

This list of car safety features is not exhaustive. Car manufacturers routinely develop new safety features to keep you safe while on the road. With every new year comes new technology that furthers the goal of reducing accidents.

So, how many accidents could these safety features prevent? According to a national survey by Erie Insurance:

• Automatic emergency braking can reduce 60 percent of rear-end collisions, resulting in 16,000 fewer car accidents.

• Lane departure warning systems can reduce numerous types of accidents by 14 percent, resulting in 8,000 fewer car accidents.

• Blind-spot monitoring can reduce sideswipe and lane-change accidents by 15 percent, resulting in 1,000 fewer car accidents.

When you leave car safety features on, you are less likely to get into an accident. Even if you get into an accident, these safety features are more likely to reduce the severity of your injuries. Car safety features can react to changing situations faster than you can. That is why they are vital and should never be turned off.

Highland Park Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Can Help You if You Have Been Injured by a Negligent Driver

Regardless of your car’s safety features, if you have been involved in a car accident caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and financial losses. To help guide you through the complex legal process, speak with one of our experienced Highland Park car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr. Call us at 732-537-8570 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Highland Park, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients in New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, Colonia, Elizabeth, and Newark.