Buckling your seatbelt isn’t the only way to protect yourself while driving. The type of car you drive — and its vehicle safety features — can influence how safe you are in the event of an accident. Advances in automotive technology mean more safety features are available in new cars than ever before.

However, some of the technology that helps make driving safer today may include things you can’t readily see when you walk the lot and “kick the tires” to check out a new vehicle. Let’s look at some safety features to consider when buying your next automobile.

Advanced Crash Protection

Vehicle safety standards are mandated by the federal government, including advanced crash protection which includes structural features, restraints and airbags. Although airbags became mandatory for all passenger cars, light trucks and vans in 1999, there’s a lot more to consider when looking for a safe vehicle.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs crash tests on vehicles and rates their performance.¹ The tests have become more rigorous over the past decade — and the results can tell you much about a car. For instance, if you’re driving a car with a “Good” score in the IIHS’ small overlap crash test, the risk of fatality is 12% lower² than if you are driving one with a “Poor” rating.

And while airbags are required, currently the federal mandate calls for only two airbags in the front seat. Most new cars have at least six airbags, and some offer as many as 10. According to IIHS research, the risk of death for car drivers was reduced by 26%³ with torso-only side airbags and 37% for head-protecting airbags. The numbers increase for SUV drivers: torso-only side airbags reduced the risk of death by 52%⁴ and by 30% for head-protecting airbags.

Automatic emergency braking

Using radar sensors mounted on the front of a vehicle, automatic emergency braking (AEB) can detect a potential collision and alert the driver to avoid it. Additional IIHS research demonstrated that AEB alone can reduce rear-end collisions by 50%,⁵ and AEB with pedestrian detection can reduce pedestrian crashes by 27%.

Since 2015, nearly all new vehicles include some form of AEB, but some of these systems only work at speeds of 55 or below. And some systems don’t work well at night.⁶

» Tip: It can be confusing when shopping because automakers use different names for this technology. But looking at the Consumer Reports vehicle model pages⁷ and checking the IIHS scores⁸ can help you make an informed decision.

Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems

This feature detects and warns of approaching traffic in blind spots on the rear quarter of the vehicle to increase your response time — and hopefully avoid a collision. Blind spot detection has been shown to reduce lane-change crashes by 14%.⁹

The warning can be visual, such as flashing lights on the vehicle’s A-pillars (the pillar between the windshield and either front door), the rearview mirror or on outbound mirrors. Some vehicles include an auditory warning, making a sound to alert you that there’s something in your blind spot. If your car has a haptic steering wheel or driver’s seat, you might even feel a buzz or vibration to give you a heads-up.

Blind spot monitoring¹⁰ is often connected to a rear cross-traffic alert that warns a driver when it detects traffic crossing — including pedestrians — behind the vehicle when backing up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underlined the importance of rear cross-traffic alerts when, in 2016, it began requiring new vehicles to provide an extended field of vision¹¹ through cameras and technology to help reduce the incidence of backover crashes.

Forward collision warning

Already offered on several mainstream vehicles as standard equipment, forward collision warning (FCW) uses a combination of cameras, radar and lasers to detect vehicles or objects in front of your car, SUV or truck. It gives a warning that may be visual, audible, tactile or a combination to alert you — and hopefully help avoid a collision.

Newer FCW systems are tied to the AEB systems mentioned above, precharging the breaks to maximize their effectiveness. Most FCW systems also apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t respond. According to one study, forward collision warning systems together with automatic emergency breaking reduced the incidence of all rear-end collisions by 49%¹² and severe injury accidents by 42%.

Lane technology

Lane-departure technology monitors the vehicle in relation to lane markers — the center and side stripes on roadways. It gives a warning if it senses your car is veering into another lane. More advanced systems will nudge the vehicle back into the lane.

Lane-keeping assist is a more sophisticated version of lane-departure warnings. Beyond the nudge of the warning system, it uses the steering to keep the vehicle in the lane. And while the force won’t overpower your input, it gets your attention. Lane-keeping assist¹³ has been shown to avoid more crashes because it begins to correct lane position even before the driver realizes it’s necessary.

Lane-centering assist goes a step beyond lane-keeping by taking a more active role in keeping your car centered in the lane. In some cases, LCA is only engaged when using active cruise control.

Automatic crash notification

Some safety features are designed to help in an accident’s aftermath. Automatic crash notification systems alert first responders if a crash is detected or if air bags have deployed, sending the vehicle’s GPS location so assistance can be provided. While automakers have charged a fee to subscribe to the service in the past, a growing number are now offering it free on new vehicles.

The takeaway

Increased safety features may help prevent accidents or reduce injuries when a collision happens. Before purchasing your next new vehicle, it’s good to know what features to look for to help keep you and your family safe.

Of course, it helps to have the auto insurance you need, too. RBFCU Insurance Agency can provide a policy review or you can request an online quote today.*