Car Craze

Primarily designed to carry people from one place to another, cars should be equipped with features that would ensure safety of its passengers. Car safety becomes an even more major concern when the vehicle is intended to serve the needs of a family. Although entertainment features ensure that kids stay pacified during the trip, it is the safety features that could guarantee that the family is protected enough to be able to enjoy the many joys of life such as entertainment.

Car safety basics include anti-lock brakes (ABS), side-curtain bags and electronic stability control (ESC). Through the rapid application of intermittent brake pressure, ABS is able to prevent a vehicle’s wheel from locking up. This feature provides an average driver more control during emergency situations. Generally offered for front occupants only due to potential injury risk to kids in child-safety seats, the side-curtain bags provide protection to the torso in side-impact crashes and also help keep passengers inside the vehicle in an event of a roll-over. ESC gives the driver more control during maneuvers that are urgent in nature. It uses sensors for close monitoring of the vehicle’s actual path as related to the intended path using inputs on steering, brake and throttle.

Families with small children should also consider child safety-seat compatibility. It would even be a wise move to bring the safety seats during the test drive to determine correct fit. Rear parking sensors or rear-mounted cameras make the driver aware of objects behind the vehicle when it is in reverse. This feature is especially useful in areas where there are small children who can easily not be seen by a driver of a large vehicle. Other features to look out for include a tire-pressure monitoring system, active head restraints and advanced frontal airbags. An onboard crash notification system is designed to summon emergency assistance. Incidentally, a vehicle’s crash test scores provide an important insight to its protection capability.