For many people, appearance as well as performance has always been the first criteria for buying a new car. But do you know that the safety of the car is also extremely important? Just as this is a very important factor in buying a new car, it is also very important when buying a used car as well.
Why Crash Test Safety Ratings?
Crash test programs provide car crash test results which show, in the event of a crash, how safe vehicles are likely to be.
Overall safety ratings are awarded based on what would happen to passengers, other road users as well as pedestrians involved in accidents as a result of serious front or side impacts, and these are relatively compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight.
What Do You Have To Do Before You Buy A New Car?
• Check the car’s crash test safety ratings.
• Use the buyer's guide to comprehensively research information pertaining to the car(s) of your choice. This information include car safety features, rollover test results, crash test ratings, and many more.
How Safe Is Your Car?
It is important to assess the safety features of your new vehicle. The following safety features are checked for:
• Structural Soundness: The structural build and integrity of a vehicle is always the first safety feature to be considered. In the event of a crash, this is expected to absorb and dissipate the crash energy. Safe vehicles are expected also to maintain their shape in a crash situation. Elements and other constituent parts within and without the vehicle should not move excessively thereby injuring the occupants of the vehicle. It is equally expected given a crash situation, that doors should remain closed at the time of impact, while at the same time being able to be opened after the crash.
• Active Stability Control: This has been variously termed and this may vary depending on the manufacturer. It may be referred to as active stability, electronic stability control, electronic stability program, or vehicle stability, but the operation is all the same in every way. Active stability controls enables drivers control and manipulate the vehicle in the event of a sudden vehicular swerving to avoid collisions.
• Anti-lock Braking Systems: These prevent the lock-up of the wheels of a vehicle as brake pedal pressure is applied. This usually occur in an emergency within the space of a short stopping distance, giving the driver better traction and control, as it helps prevents the vehicle skidding and loss of traction.
• Airbags: It is expected that airbags, in the event of a crash, should be able to deploy and inflate rapidly on impact in order to protect the occupants of a vehicle. When deployed effectively in the event of a collision, airbags are known to significantly reduce the chances of serious injury or even deaths. The best rated vehicles should have front, side, curtain and knee airbags and these should be what drivers should look for when assessing this safety device.
• Seat belts: Seat belts are used to secure occupants of a vehicle securely in anticipation of a crash. All motor vehicle occupants are expected to always wear seat belts whenever in a moving vehicle. Vehicles fitted with retractable 3-point sash-styled seat belts with pre-tensioners are favored and rated high. This helps secure the occupants in place and deal with the impacts of forces during a collision.
There are many different safety ratings available and some of them are very easy to access through the Internet. Safety ratings of cars can be found at safercar.gov and motor trend, as well as other references on the Internet.
Whether you’re buying a new car, or just a car that is new to you, exploring the safety ratings can be an important part of your decision-making process. In selecting a call for a teenager, the safety factor can be a very critical part of the equation.
