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Look for these Safety Features When Investing in a New Car

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Safety is priority number one in the minds of many car buyers. Yet, with all the fancy and advanced technology available in new cars (thank goodness!), it can be overwhelming trying to decide what safety features to look for and invest in when shopping for a new set of wheels.

Thankfully, the experts at ConsumerReports.org have whittled down the options to reveal their top nine recommended safety features.

An antilock brake system will stop your wheels from locking up when you slam on the brakes. “Without it, the vehicle tends to keep plowing ahead in whatever direction it was going. You can’t steer, and locked wheels can cause a vehicle to slide sideways or even spin,” say the experts.

Airbags are a standard feature in vehicles, but new car buyers should look for head-protecting side airbags that release from above the windows. “Curtain airbags cover the side windows in both front and rear, preventing occupants from hitting their heads, while also helping to keep a person from being ejected in a side impact or rollover,” report the ConsumerReports.org experts.

Safety tech like forward-collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) do wonders for warning drivers of dangers and take action, like automatically engaging the brakes, if the alerts go unnoticed by the driver.

A standard feature in light-duty trucks and cars since 2012 according to the ConsumerReports.org experts, electronic stability control (ESC) is an essential safety feature for drivers because it “helps keep the vehicle on its intended path during a turn to avoid sliding or skidding out of control. It’s especially helpful in slippery conditions and accident-avoidance situations, such as when trying to steer around a person or cat that has pulled out in front of you.”

Rearview cameras, which the experts report will be mandatory in 2018 models, give drivers greater perspective when backing up while adaptive cruise control keeps a safe distance between vehicles.

With blind-spot warning (BSW), a vehicle lurking in a driver’s blindspot is revealed through driver alerts or signals; rear cross-traffic warning, which usually complements BSW, alerts a driver who is reversing his vehicle to any vehicle approaching from the side.

To keep drivers in their lanes, the experts at ConsumerReports.org are fans of lane-departure warning (LDW) and lane-keeping assist (LKA) technologies.

By choosing the right safety tech in a new vehicle, you’ll be making a smart investment not only in a new vehicle, but in your peace of mind.

News Source: Consumer Reports