Safety Features to Look for in Used Cars

When shopping for a used car many consumers fear that because the vehicle is not brand new it may not be safe or equipped with proper safety technology. It is true that a new car will have the latest technology; it is also true that safety technology becomes more and more advanced every year. However, if you purchase a vehicle form the last few years you should be able to get up to date features. Even if the vehicle is five years old, it will at least have front airbags and anti lock brakes. Here is a list of important safety features to look for on your next used vehicle, along with the feature's use and importance.

Airbags

 Passenger and driver-side dual airbags are now required in all vehicles sold in the United States. Recent advances in airbag technology have introduced side air bags that tests show are effective in preventing the driver and passengers from hitting their heads on rigid areas of the vehicle in side impact collisions. There are three designs of these airbags, a tubular airbag that inflates from the roof, a curtain design that employs from the roof or an airbag deployed from the seat, inflating forward and up. If it is possible that you will have a child in the front seat, make sure the used vehicle has an airbag shut off switch. Because the force of airbag deployment has the potential to injure a child or small-stature adult, many vehicles now come equipped with an airbag shut-off switch. This kill switch is most commonly found in late-model pickup trucks and two-seat roadsters/sport cars.

Antilock Braking System (ABS)

Antilock Braking Systems eliminate the need to "pump the brakes" when you have to stop quickly, preventing you from locking the wheels and skidding. Because ABS pumps the brakes for you, you can apply constant pressure on the brake pedal and concentrate on steering the car. This allows you to regain control during inclement weather or quickly avoid a collision. ABS is available for nearly all new cars and trucks and is standard equipment on many. Truck buyers should check to make sure the feature comes on all four wheels.

Automatic Locking Retractor Seatbelts

 If you will be installing a child safety seat, this feature is very important. ALR seatbelts are designed to take up slack in the belt automatically and to lock in place when the passenger or child safety seat moves forward at a higher than normal rate of speed. When installing a child safety seat, these seatbelts must be as tight as possible.

Back Up Sensing System

This system helps prevent backup accidents. A proximity sensor in the rear portion of the vehicle senses when the vehicle gets too close to an object and warns the driver. This feature is an option on many later model mini-vans and larger sized SUVs.

Child Safety Seat Tethers (LATCH)

 LATCH, or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system, make it easier for parents to know they have installed a child safety seat correctly. Tether straps attach the safety seat to the rear shelf of the car and rear seat belt area. Since September of 2002, the LATCH system is now required on all new vehicles. Again, if you will have children in a car seat in the used car, it is best to get a vehicle that you know will have LATCH.

Crumple Zones

Crumple zones are one of the most underrated safety features in modern vehicles. Automotive Engineers have designed the body parts of a vehicle to crumple in predetermined patterns to absorb the energy from a crash's impact and maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment, keeping the driver and passengers safer.

Electronic Stability System

 An Electronic Stability System coordinates the ABS, Traction Control, and the "yaw" of your vehicle (how much a car rocks side-to-side). The individual systems are combined in an effort to reduce tire spinning, skidding, and tractionless cornering, keeping your tires in maximum contact with the road. Found mostly on luxury models, stability systems are slowly working their way into more vehicles.

Traction Control

While ABS helps you maintain control while braking, traction control helps you do so while accelerating. Traction control stops the spin of a wheel -- due to wet conditions, loose gravel or an overzealous foot -- by braking it, reducing the fuel or cutting spark plug ignitions (depending on your system). This insures maximum contact between your tires and the road.

Head Restraints

The system is designed to lower the number whiplash injuries. Most vehicles simply have what is commonly referred to as a headrest that keeps the head from whipping back after a rear impact. More advanced systems allow the back of the seat and headrest to move down and back upon a rear impact, lessening the forward motion and cutting down on head and neck injuries.

Crash Resistant Door Pillars

Auto manufacturers have introduced this safety feature to deflect the force of a side-impact collision away from the head area and toward the legs. This is achieved by keeping the top portion of the vehicle's side post more rigid and allowing the lower portion to move inward.

Night Vision

This little gadget provides a display of the dashboard instruments on the inside of your windshield and will make you feel like a jet fighter pilot. The pros and cons of this feature are mainly of personal taste and comfortableness of using the display. The luxury version option available on Cadillac models incorporates night-vision technology that allows the driver to see further down the road than the headlights illuminate.