As the world has become more technologically advanced, safety features in vehicles have also become much more innovative. As a result, drivers are much more likely to survive car crashes than they were 50 years ago, and parents have more trust in their vehicles to protect their families from danger.
Improved vehicle safety features in the last several decades include anti-lock braking systems, three-point seat belts, lane departure warning systems, pressure monitoring, and backup cameras. All of these features continue to improve as we speak, and car companies are constantly trying to look for ways to improve their safety ratings.
We’ll talk about some of these features above and a few more to create a list of smart safety options everybody should have in their family vehicle. We’ll also discuss some of the behaviors you should exhibit while driving to take full advantage of these safety features.
Remember, the car can only do so much to keep you safe. Driver behavior is just as important.
#1 – Blind Spot Monitors
Trying to be aware of your blind spots is one of the most difficult things to do when you learn how to drive a car. Teens especially have a hard time remembering to scan the road by checking their mirrors and turning over their shoulders to see if there is any traffic they’re going to run into when changing lanes.
You need to make sure your car has blind spot monitors before driving the car off the lot. Talk to the car salesman about the current technology in blind spot monitoring and whether your vehicle is up to date in this area. Many older models and used cars from over a decade ago may be behind the times in this category of safety.
The Kia Soul, Honda Civic, and Toyota Camry are three family-friendly cars with some of the most modern features in blind spot monitoring. Some of these cars have cameras showing 360 degrees around the car. This makes sure there’s no part angle or spot on the road you can’t see through your monitors.
This is especially important if you’re a fan of larger vehicles like trucks or SUVs. Installing a blind spot monitor in your older vehicle is something everyone should consider if they have a hard time seeing the road.
#2 – Taking Control of Additional Cameras
Just because you have extra cameras doesn’t mean you should let your guard down or stop paying attention on the road. Blind-spot monitoring is supposed to supplement your driving skills and the attention you already pay to the other cars and obstacles around you.
Remember to always rely on your own eyes first. Check your blind spots and look around your vehicle the same way you would without having aids or extra safety features. This will help you maintain the good habits you’ve always tried to perfect, and the cameras implemented in the car will make you an even better driver.
Don’t speed, go through red lights, or drive recklessly and expect the car to take control of the situation for you. This will mitigate the effects of the technology in the vehicle. You’ll also get pulled over for traffic violations, get fined, and potentially have your insurance rates increased in the process.
#3 – Video Monitors For Teens
Something you may want if you have a teen driver is a camera or monitor in the car to track the behavior and decision-making of your young driver. Teens make a lot of shaky decisions when they first learn how to drive, especially if they have other people in the car with them.
Drive cams are effective at showing parents when their children may be speeding or braking rapidly or looking at their cell phones while behind the wheel. Teens may be discouraged to do these things while driving if they know their parents can see what they’re doing wrong. With more trust may come an agreement to get rid of a drive cam or other monitor.
#4 – Insurance Discounts for Safety Devices
People of all ages can benefit from driving monitor devices insurance companies put into their policies. Allstate has Drivewise, and Progressive has Snapshot. These programs install devices in your car to reward you for great behavior and give you some discounts on your insurance.
The best part about it is any type of vehicle is able to use these insurance apps or devices. Unlike when you have to buy a new car to get some of the other safety features we’ve talked about, these monitors serve as incentives for any person behind the wheel regardless of their car model.
#5 – Lane Departure Technology
Lane departure systems are awesome because they let you know when you may be leaving your lane and drifting into the next one. This will help you avoid accidents where you side-swipe another car, or even run into the curb on the side of the road.
Just like the blind spot monitoring devices, lane departure is modern technology that will assist you when you need a little bit of extra vision on the road. This is especially useful when you’re on the highway or the freeway because so many people are switching lanes, and the lane departure will let you know to hold off on getting over until the coast is clear.
#6 – Staying In Your Lane
One of the main reasons someone might drift while driving is because they’re sleepy. A good piece of driving wisdom is don’t drive fatigued. Try to always be rested when you’re on the road so you don’t get drowsy and start going into someone else’s lane. Get a good night’s sleep the night before if you have a long drive the next morning. Consider an alternative form of transportation if you can’t stay awake.
If you need to pull over and get a little bit of a nap before continuing your trip, try to find a rest stop to do so. Have a passenger take over for you if they’re available in the car with you.
You should be happy to know there are so many ways to find safety features in a new vehicle, which is especially advantageous given the high number of North Carolina’s road accidents. Most companies care a lot about safety technology, and insurance companies love it also because it prevents accidents.
Pay attention to the road, and search for the best safety features for your family car and everyone should be safe on the next family drive.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, BuyAutoInsurance.com. He wants to help drivers and their families stay safe when they get behind the wheel.
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