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5 Must-Have Safety Features for Your Next Car

Mar. 07, 2024

Electronic Components & Supplies

Time for a new car? As technology advances, so do car safety features. Before you purchase your next car, check out its safety features and consider the must-haves listed below.

Blind Spot Detection

A blind spot detection or blind spot warning (BSW) feature is any new driver's best friend. By providing either an audible or visual alert, blind spot detectors use sensors and cameras to evaluate the activity around your vehicle. Blind spot detectors are on the job when you activate your turn signal and they’re in an “always on” mode with a warning light on your side mirrors. This comes in handy when you aren’t expecting a zooming car to pass you or when in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is there to help when you may not have time to react. With ACC, a vehicle implements defensive driving habits by turning off cruise control when another vehicle is too close in range, keeps you within a preset speed limit, detects upcoming bends and turns and adjusts your speed accordingly. Like blind spot detection, technology on the vehicle consists of cameras and sensors to help drivers drive safely. ACC comes with varying abilities and is customizable in your vehicle’s settings.
Automatic Emergency Braking

Have you ever been distracted in traffic trying to switch lanes, only to turn forward to see the vehicle in front of you has suddenly braked? With automatic emergency braking, your vehicle can help detect a potential collision and react with an automatic emergency brake. This can prove useful, especially if you regularly encounter stop-and-go traffic or drive during rush hour.
Rear-view Camera

Crunch! This is the awful sound you hear when bumping into another vehicle in the parking lot, or when backing over the bikes your kids left behind your car in the driveway. With a rear-view camera, you’re able to avoid parking lot accidents, and most importantly, protect your kids (and their toys).

The good news is the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) implemented a law stating that by May 1, 2018, all cars, SUVs, trucks and vans manufactured are required to have a rear-view visibility system, meaning this is now a standard safety feature and easy to find.
Lane-Keeping Assist/Lane Departure Warning

Lane-Keeping Assist is a great feature to have in a car, especially if you frequently drive at night. With Lane-Keeping Assist, you may receive a vibration, sound cue or light cue to signal that you’re going outside of your lane. Simply correct by returning into your lane or if no action is taken, your vehicle may correct for you until you’re within the lane lines. Note, if the driver takes over steering while the vehicle tries to correct it will back off and the driver will resume control.

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4. Traffic Signs

The shape and color of a sign offers you a clue about the information contained on the sign. Here are the common shapes used:

An 8-sided red STOP sign indicates that you must make a full stop whenever you see this sign. Stop at the white limit line (a wide white line painted on the street) or before entering the crosswalk. If a limit line or crosswalk is not painted on the street, stop before entering the intersection. Check traffic in all directions before proceeding.

A 3-sided red YIELD sign indicates that you must slow down and be ready to stop, if necessary, to let any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before you proceed. Yield means to give the right-of-way to traffic on the road you are entering or crossing.

A square red and white regulatory sign may have different instructions. For example, the DO NOT ENTER sign means do not enter a road or off ramp where the sign is posted (usually on a freeway off ramp). The WRONG WAY sign may or may not be posted with the DO NOT ENTER sign. If you see one or both of these signs, drive to the side of the road and stop. You are going against traffic. When safe, back out or turn around and return to the road you were on. At night if you are going the wrong way, the road reflectors will shine red in your headlights.

A sign that has a red circle with a red line through it always indicates “NO.” The picture inside the circle shows what you cannot do. The sign may be shown with or without words.

A yellow and black circular sign indicates that you are approaching a railroad crossing.

An X-shaped sign with a white background that states RAILROAD CROSSING indicates that you must look, listen, slow down, and prepare to stop, if necessary. Let any trains pass before you proceed.

A 5-sided sign indicates that you are near a school. Stop if children are in the crosswalk.

A 4-sided diamond-shaped sign warns you of specific road conditions and dangers ahead. Many warning signs are diamond shaped.

A white rectangular sign indicates that you must obey important rules.

Some warning signs have a fluorescent yellow-green background. These signs warn of conditions related to pedestrians, bicyclists, schools, playgrounds, school buses, and school passenger loading zones. Obey all warning signs regardless of their shape or color.