What Car Safety Features to Look for in Your Next Vehicle?

Planning on buying your next vehicle? Australian government data reveals that there were 1,125 road deaths in the 12-month period ending May 2021. This was a 2.4 percent increase from the previous 12 months. Many of these deaths were the result of human error or poor car safety features, which means they could have been prevented. In order to protect your family, car safety is vital so make it a priority when buying your next vehicle.

How to Assess Car Safety?

With so many makes and models available in the market today, it can be difficult to assess the safety of a vehicle. But safety is generally associated around three key pillars:

• Structural Integrity of the Vehicle – can the vehicle withstand crashes better than others? Good structural integrity is so important to save lives.
• Safety Features – in-built safety features are so vital to keep the occupants safe and to help them withstand any impact.
• Safety Technologies – some safety technologies fitted into modern vehicles can help drivers avoid the risk of crashing.

Each of these pillars plays a role in establishing the safety of a particular vehicle.

What Car Safety Features are Important?

Modern cars some with a range of different car safety features that have reduced the number of road casualties over the years. Some of the top car safety features to look for include:

• Airbags for all seats – front and rear
• Anti-lock brakes
• Stability control systems
• Blind spot monitoring
• Emergency braking
• Active lane keep assist
• Intelligent speed adaptation
• Collision warning and avoidance
• Speed alert
• Fatigue assistance
• Advanced lighting
• Shatter resistant glass

What are Car Safety Ratings?

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is an independent authority for vehicle safety in Australia. The authority publishes car safety ratings for new vehicles that enter the Australia and New Zealand markets. The rating of 0 to 5 stars is based on the level of safety provided in the event of a crash along with the ability of the vehicle to reduce its impact and effects.

But safety ratings are not just limited to new cars. The Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSRs) report gives buyers a chance to compare safety ratings of different makes and models over the years. The data is compiled by using information from over 8 million crashes in both Australia and New Zealand and is based on a rating scale from 1 to 5 stars – with a safety rating of 1 assessed as very poor and a safety rating of 5 assessed as excellent.

According to the UCSR report, newer cars tend to be safer with the average risk of injury or death in a car manufactured in 2018 reduced by 43% when compared to a model manufactured in 2000.

UCSR and the ANCAP provide easy to understand star ratings to tell you how well your next new or used car purchase will protect you in a crash.

Why Consider Car Safety During Your Next Purchase?

Not only is car safety important to protect your family and keep them as safe as possible, but did you also know that insurers also consider the safety rating of the vehicle when calculating your premium?

Typically cars that are considered safer on the road will have lower annual premiums compared with cars regarded as riskier on the roads. If you want to reduce both your risk and insurance costs, look for cars with better safety ratings than others whether you’re buying new or used.

What are the Best Cars for Safety and Reliability?

A car safety check is so important to make sure you are buying the safest possible car within your budget. According to ANCAP, these are the five safest new car models in Australia.

• Toyota Highlander and Kluger from June 2021 onwards.
• Genesis GV 80 from December 2020 onwards.
• Genesis G80 from December 2020 onwards.
• Kia Carnival from January 2021 onwards.
• Mazda MX-30 from March 2021 onwards.

For used vehicles in the large SUV range, UCSR rates the Volvo XC90 (2003 – 2015), the Audi Q7 (2006 – 2014) and the Toyota Landcruiser Prado (2009 – 2018) as 5 stars among a few other models. In the medium SUV’s range, top rated vehicles include the Honda CR-V (2012 – 2017), the Hyundai Santa Fe (2012 – 2018) and the Subaru Forester (2012 – 2018) to name a few. For small cars, the Audi A3 (2004 – 2013) and the Toyota Prius 3 (2009 – 2016) come up as winners. View the entire list of used car safety ratings here.

Final Word

No matter what car you decide to buy, safety should always take priority. Take the time to consider what car safety features are most important to you and your family and use this guide to help you make the best possible choice.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. To read more articles like this, please visit the Shop for Cars latest news page here.

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DISCLAIMER: This is all based on opinion please research and consult with all relevant parties to make the best buying decision