If a serious crash has left you shopping for a new car, you may be surprised at the multitude of safety features that now come standard with a lot of models or as an added safety package to many others. If your last car’s most impressive safety feature was airbags, you may be wondering which of the new features offer the most protection against other drivers or even your own mistakes.
That depends in part on where and how much you drive and what added assistance would most help you. However, auto safety experts typically recommend getting at least the following safety features:
Forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking
This technology can detect when you’re approaching a vehicle ahead of you too quickly. It will sound an alarm so you can slow down or stop. Some systems automatically apply the brakes if they sense an impending crash.
Lane departure warning/lane-keeping assist
A warning system senses when a car is veering out of its lane and alerts the driver so they can get back inside it. Some systems have the additional technology that will gently steer the car back into the lane.
Blind-spot monitoring
This lets drivers know if another vehicle is coming up behind them in the next lane so that they don’t change lanes and potentially hit someone. Some cars will also let the driver know if a car, cyclist or pedestrian is approaching the back of their vehicle either from the side or directly behind them if the car is in reverse.
Inattentive driver monitoring
This technology can monitor things like drivers’ eyelid movements and detect when someone might not be paying attention to the road or dozing off. It will then sound a warning to get the driver’s attention. Some systems can also use steering or braking assist if needed to get the car out of potential danger.
While these and other safety features are valuable to have and can indeed prevent crashes, they’re no substitute for drivers paying attention to what’s going on around them. Drivers are still responsible for the crashes they cause, regardless of how much-advanced technology is in their vehicle. If you’ve been injured by an at-fault driver, you can and should fight for the maximum compensation to which you’re entitled.
