IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Winter 2018 | Page 18

INDUSTRY INSIGHT
INSURANCE
SPONSORED CONTENT
LATEST CAR
SAFETY
FEATURES
BECOMING
MUST-HAVES
T
oday’s new cars are packed with safety features that help
protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. But which car
safety features should you look for when buying a new auto?
Here are some of the safety feature must-haves you’ll want to
consider for your next vehicle:
SAFETY FEATURES: STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Some important safety features are now required on new vehicles.
These include front airbags, electronic stability control, safety belts,
and the LATCH child safety seat system. Side-curtain airbags, while not
required by regulation, have become standard on many new cars in
recent years. Review additional safety features at Safercar.gov.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO CONSIDER
Once exclusive to luxury vehicles, crash avoidance technology is
now available on many new models. These can include:
• Forward collision warning
These systems use an audible warning to alert drivers when
they are coming up too close to a vehicle in front of them.
“Systems with autonomous braking also back up warnings with
an automatic application to the brakes,” says David Zuby, chief
research officer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) and its Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). “Our research
shows that both help reduce crashes.”
• Adaptive headlights
These headlights pivot toward the direction you’re traveling and
are great for improving visibility around curves. When the HLDI
studied adaptive headlights offered on Acura, Mazda, Mercedes,
and Volvo models, it discovered that they lowered property
damage liability claims by as much as 10%. For added safety, Zuby
also recommends HID headlights, adaptive high-beam assist and
night view technology.
• Blind spot detection
Sensors serve as second eyes, alerting drivers of objects in their
blind spots. Though less research backs up the benefits of blind
spot detection, Zuby recommends it. “Whether or not it’s effective,
when we’ve talked to vehicle owners with cars equipped with
blind spot detection, they universally agree it’s a good thing,”
Zuby says.
Learn which vehicles are equipped with crash avoidance systems.
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ADDITIONAL AUTO SAFEGUARDS
When shopping for a new car, review the crash performance of
various models provided by the IIHS vehicle safety ratings. And learn
more about new auto safety technologies from State Farm®.
Keep in mind that safety features aren’t a substitute for safe, defensive
driving. If you need to brush up on your skills, consider taking a driver
safety class.
Need more incentive? Taking a class may make you eligible for
discounts on your auto insurance.