While it might be tempting to opt for looks and high-end entertainment features, safety should be one of the top priorities for drivers considering buying new vehicles in 2023. Traffic fatalities on U.S. roads reached a 16-year high in 2021, making it even more important to protect yourself and loved ones when getting from A to B.
The good news is that new cars are constantly getting safer. New technologies are helping drivers minimize the effects of accidents, reducing physical harm and repair costs, as well as avoiding them altogether.
Such technology can vary between manufacturers and models however, so it pays to research the different features available and consider what matters to you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides car safety ratings to inform your choices too.
Below, read up on five modern safety features that many new cars offer in 2023.
Blind-spot warnings
As learner drivers, we’re always told to check our blind spots, but taking a proper look before every single lane change or turn can be tricky. Blind-spot warnings use proximity technology such as radar sensors positioned at the corners of rear bumpers to alert you to vehicles hidden out of view, stopping you mistakenly thinking you’re in the clear.
Door-exit warnings
Have you ever had a near miss with a cyclist or pedestrian when opening your door, or perhaps had a door opened on you when passing a vehicle? Door-exit warnings use similar technology as above to alert drivers through a beep or flash before they open up into overtaking traffic.
Speed sign recognition
It’s easy to miss speed signs occasionally and accidentally exceed or go dangerously under the legal speed limit for a new road or area. Sign recognition technology uses tiny cameras in the windscreen to scan the road ahead and pick up various speed signs, including digital, physical, and specific zone signs.
Autonomous emergency braking
Autonomous braking is a major step forward in preventing collisions on the road. It uses a mix of sensors and cameras to monitor the road ahead, alerting you behind the wheel before quickly taking over to perform an emergency stop if you don’t respond in safe time. This action can avoid or at least reduce the severity of a collision.
Electronic stability control
Similarly, electronic stability control is another important recent advance for vehicle safety. It works to automatically reduce engine power and even operate both or individual brakes if it detects your car is about to lose stability or skid out of control, whether due to your driving inputs or the road conditions.
Such features can’t take the pressure off you to drive with care, of course. But having them on your side can make all the difference.
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