Essential Driver Safety Features To Look For In A New Car

When the time comes for you purchase a new vehicle as a first-time driver, there are a lot of factors you need to take into consideration, but none of those factors are more important than your safety. Thankfully, advances in technology are marking cars safer all the time, with many models on the market offering a wide array of features intended to keep your as safe as possible while you are driving. To help you pick the safest car for you, here are some of the essential driver safety features you should look for in a new car.

Airbags

Airbags are a safety feature that function by cushioning drivers in the event of a collision. Airbags are hugely important as they will prevent you from sustaining a potentially life-threatening brain injury from hitting your head on the steering wheel, windshield, or dashboard.

In order for the airbag to work as intended, drivers should always wear a seatbelt and position the seat at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel. This ensures that the airbag has sufficient space to deploy and cushion your head without running the risk of the casing impacting your face.

Traction Control

Traction control systems work by preventing your cars’ wheels from losing their grip on the road, should you be driving in rainy or icy conditions. Because they reduce the static friction of the road surface, and therefore your cars’ ability to find traction, both snow and rain significantly increase the chances of you suffering an automobile accident.

To remedy this, car manufacturers have included traction control systems that adjust the amount of power your engine is transmitting to your cars’ wheels, this causes the wheels to turn more slowly and lessens the chances of them losing traction and slipping.

Antilock brakes (ABS)

Antilock brakes work by preventing your wheels from locking up during hard braking. If your brakes do cause your wheels to lock on a slippery surface, the sliding front tires make it almost impossible to steer. ABS prevents this from happening by using sensors on each wheel that are connected to a computer that automatically varies the braking action on each individual wheel to prevent them from locking up. This, in turn, allows the driver to maintain steering control while braking hard, preventing you from simply sliding into obstacles.

Head Restraints

While the concept of head restraints in a car might sound unusual, whiplash and other head trauma are some of the most common injuries among car accident victims and often result in high levels of pain and discomfort. To prevent the driver and passengers from sustaining neck and head injuries, some models of car offer differently shaped seatbelts and repositionable, cushioned head supports that work to prevent your head from snapping backward and forwards in the event of an accident.

Expert Training

The Northwest Driving School and Traffic School provides the Las Vegas community with live driving and traffic classes taught by seasoned instructors. All of our driving instructors have passed background checks, each automobile is DMV safety-approved and every member of the Northwest family is committed to providing excellent drivers ed and behind the wheel instruction.

At Northwest, you can expect to find outstanding classes, both on campus and behind the wheel, that are engaging, fact-filled, entertaining and geared toward success. We make no bones about it, we believe that Northwest provides the best driving lessons in Las Vegas, no matter your age or background. We are proud of the fact that 98% of our students pass their test on the first try. Call us at (702) 403-1592 to start your driving adventure with one of our expert instructors.

Written by:
Rich Heinrich
Master Instructor, Emeritus