Safety Tips - Buying a Safe Car

• The NHTSA (government five-star safety ratings) performs tests that simulate frontal and side impacts as part of their New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). In addition to the collision tests, the NHTSA is the only group (currently) that performs a rollover test.
  

The IIHS not only assesses front and side collisions, but also seat and head restraints in rear crashes and bumpers in low-speed crashes. Unlike the NHTSA’s test, the IIHS frontal test is offset (only one side of the front end is hit) to better simulate a real world crash between two vehicles. The IIHS ranks vehicles using these grades: Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor.


• Thanks to these organizations, car buyers now have a wealth of useful information about vehicle safety under critical circumstances. To explore in greater detail the math and science behind the NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program and the five star rating system or to find out the results for a specific vehicle, visit www.safercar.gov. To learn more about the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s testing program, or to view vehicle results, go to www.iihs.org.
  

• Today, front air bags are available on all new cars, even the least expensive. They use electronic sensors to detect a frontal collision and trigger the bags. The bags inflate instantlyto protect the front seat occupants, and then immediately deflate.
  


• Dual-stage front air bags detect variables in certain conditions, such as whether a seat belt is fastened and the severity of a crash in order to determine the appropriate deployment power relative to the conditions present. Many of the latest systems can also determine whether a person is even in the passenger seat and will deactivate the air bag accordingly. State-of-the-art air-bag systems detect the presence, height, weight, and seat position of the driver and front passenger, and deactivate or reduce the deployment power of the front air bags in order to minimize the chance of injury to out-of-position occupants.
  


• Side-impact air bags inflate between the passengers and the doors are designed to protect front-seat passengers from door impacts.
  


• Side-curtain bags, which traverse the front and rear side windows, prevent passengers from striking their heads, protect them from flying debris and help stop them from being ejected from the car during rollovers. With continuing innovation in air bag technology, it is important to ask about the air bag system of any vehicle you are considering.
  


• ABS (Antilock brakes) maximize braking effectiveness by eliminating brake lock-up electronically. Eliminating lock-up also helps maintain emergency steering control. Some Antilock Braking Systems come with brake assist, which engages ABS and boosts brake pressure under heavy or panic braking. Not all cars have brake assist. Ask before you buy.
  


• In recent years seat belts have been made more effective. Today’s seat belts employ a dual lap and shoulder restraint system, using one continuous length of webbing, which helps spread out the inertial impact of the body against the belt over the chest, pelvis, and shoulders. They also feature retractor reels that let out the strap or pull it back as needed. In a collision the reel locks to prevent the strap from coming out and keeps the passenger from lurching forward. Many vehicles offer seat belts with a shoulder-height adjustment feature to ensure that the belt is properly positioned across the front of your body.
  


• Since 2002, all new vehicles are required to have the LATCH system, which incorporates built-in lower anchors and car safety-seat tether attachment points, allowing compatible child safety seats to be firmly anchored to a car without relying on the vehicle's seatbelts. The LATCH system enhances child safety seat installation by reducing incompatibilities between vehicles and the seats themselves.
  


• Traction control systems electronically limit wheel spin to help achieve maximum traction, particularly on slick surfaces. Some traction control systems use the car's anti-lock brake system prevent wheel spin. When wheel spin is detected, traction control momentarily applies the brakes to the slipping wheel and routes power to a wheel with better grip. Enhanced traction control systems use a combination of ABS and engine controls to manage traction on slick surfaces and at higher speeds. Enhanced traction control systems are more complex and may shift the transmission, decrease the throttle, apply the brakes or perform any combination of these adjustments to help prevent wheel spin.
  


• Electronic stability control is even more advanced than traction control. Sensors throughout the vehicle allow the system to factor in a greater number of variables, including individual wheel speed, steering angle, and lateral motion, so that it can electronically adjust the vehicle’s engine, braking, suspension or steering systems as necessary. Electronic stability control really provides an extra measure of control for slippery surfaces and in emergency maneuvers. On some SUVs, electronic stability control can also help prevent the vehicle from finding themselves in a situation where rollover is imminent. Some manufacturers incorporate roll stability control on these vehicles. Sometimes called RSC, these systems use gyroscopic sensors to determine if the vehicle is in danger of rolling. In this event the system automatically activates the electronic stability control to help bring the car back under control.
  


• Beginning September 1, 2007, USA government regulations will require tire pressure monitors on all new light vehicles. Since tire under-inflation can greatly increase the chance of blowouts, the introduction of the monitors should help in preventing them. When looking for a car, keep in mind that there are two types of monitors acceptable to the government. Direct monitoring systems, which places a sensor inside each wheel to measure the tire pressure and indirect monitoring systems, which determines air loss by using sensors to measure chassis ride-height or by counting wheel revolutions.
  


• Telematics, like OnStar, are a combination of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology and cellular telephone service employed to enhance the security of both car and driver. With the touch of a button, a driver can speak with a monitoring station, where the location of the vehicle can be tracked by computer to provide route directions or, if necessary, emergency assistance. If a vehicle's air bag is deployed, the system can automatically notify the control center, locate the vehicle, and dispatch emergency aid. Most telematic systems require a monthly service fee to keep the benefits in force.
  

• Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation website frequently. When buying any new or pre-owned car be sure to investigate any open recalls. The link is www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/.