7 Car Safety Features You Need To Know About

July 7th, 2023

Road safety is always a top priority for drivers.

It’s always on our minds whether we’re going on long drives or simply taking a short trip for milk and bread.

Fortunately, car manufacturers also have these in mind when they design the vehicles we use today. All vehicles in the market now have to comply with a set of safety standards and come equipped with a range of road safety features.

In this article, we’ll take you through some of the most important car safety features that you need to know about.

What are car safety features?

Each car comes with a safety system designed to protect its users on the road in case of emergencies and make roads safer for all drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Whether you’re headed off on an adventure or use your car on a regular basis to go to work, run errands or take the kids to school, it’s important to be well-versed in these features so you know what to do on the road, just in case some unexpected circumstances occur.

7 car safety features drivers need to know about

There are several safety features in all types of vehicles – some of which are basic and others that utilise more advanced technologies.

Here are 7 of the most common car safety features as well as how to use them and how they work.

1. Seatbelts

Starting with the basics: seatbelts.

Seatbelts are simple but crucial safety features that restrain the occupants of a car in cases of sudden speed changes or collisions.

When a driver or a passenger is wearing a seatbelt, it keeps them from being thrown from the vehicle when there’s a sudden impact, which minimises the risk of injury.

So, don’t forget to fasten your seatbelts! It’s the law in Australia!

2. Airbags

Next up: airbags.

Airbags are typically found in the steering wheel and on the dashboard in front of the passenger’s seat. There are also knee airbags beneath the steering column and at the knee height of the passenger’s seat dashboard.

Airbags are designed to rapidly inflate in the event of a crash or road accident, absorbing the impact force, protecting the occupants of a vehicle and reducing the risk of head, chest and other injuries.

3. Rearview Cameras and Parking Sensors

Beyond making parking more convenient, these features are also designed to keep vehicles safe.

Rearview cameras provide a live feed of the area behind the vehicle to assist drivers as they manoeuvre and park, while parking sensors detect obstacles using electromagnetic technology to warn drivers of the risks of collisions while parking.

4. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Another common car safety feature is designed for one of the most important parts of your car: your tyres.

The TPMS monitors the pressure level on your tyres as you drive to enhance road safety. The system allows drivers to ensure that the pressure of tyres remains at a safe level to reduce the risk of tyre failure which may lead to road accidents.

So, whenever one or more of your tyres becomes underinflated or overinflated, the TPMS signal on your dashboard lights up, which alerts you to check your vehicle’s tyres immediately.

5. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

Hard and fast braking is inevitable at some point while driving – especially when roads are slippery. This is what an anti-lock braking system helps with.

This car safety feature is designed to help drivers steer during road emergencies by keeping the traction in the tyres when driving on slippery roads.

The ABS monitors your vehicle’s wheel speed and uses a sensor to detect a wheel lock to prevent your car from skidding. It then sends a message to the controller to apply the brake while maintaining vehicle stability and allowing the driver to stay in control of the steering wheel.

6. Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)

If you’re often worried about your blind spot when changing lanes, a blind spot monitor can help you on the road.

As part of an Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS), the BSM is designed to alert drivers when there are adjacent vehicles that are not visible whenever changing lanes.

Similar to parking sensors, a BSM is there to prevent collisions by monitoring the blind spot and sending signals to reduce the risk of side collisions.

7. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Since we already touched on this, we’ll finish off this list with this innovative driving technology designed to increase road visibility and enhance road safety: ADAS Driving Technology.

ADAS covers an entire suite of safety features that use sensors, cameras, alerts, in-built cameras and algorithms to assist drivers across various aspects of driving such as parking, lane-keeping, distance monitoring and more.

This technology is designed to enhance overall safety and make driving far more convenient.

We discuss ADAS more in this article: ADAS Driving Technology 101.

Understanding these crucial vehicle safety features will help drivers feel more confident when hitting the road and make car rides safer for drivers, passengers and bystanders alike.

So, next time you head out, be sure to check that all these car safety systems are working, so you can always feel safe behind the wheel.

Drive safe on the road with the car of your dreams!

Driving the car of your dreams is even more rewarding when you’re confident about all of the safety features that make every adventure safe and enjoyable for you and your family.

So, whenever you’re ready to take the next step towards driving a new car safely, it helps to have a vehicle expert who can guide you. If you have questions about car safety and how you can choose the right one for you, simply reach out to us for a chat.

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