There are so many cars to buy. Many times when people shop for a new car they only look at price. However, safety is also an important feature. Here are some safety features to look for when shopping ofr a car. These can save the lives of you and loved ones from being injured or killed in a Pennsylvania car accident.
1.Crashworthiness
These features reduce the risk of death or serious injury when a crash occurs. Many consumer magazines and internet websites have these ratings readily available.
2.Vehicle structural design
A good structural design has a strong occupant compartment, known as the safety cage, as well as front and rear ends designed to buckle and bend in a crash to absorb the force of the crash. These crush zones should keep damage away from the safety cage because once the cage starts to collapse, the likelihood of injury increases rapidly.
3.Vehicle size and weight
The laws of physics dictate that larger and heavier cars are safer than lighter and smaller ones. Small cars have twice as many occupant deaths each year as large cars. In crashes involving smaller and larger vehicles, heavier vehicles drive lighter ones backwards, decreasing the forces inside the heavier car and increasing them in the lighter car.
4.Restraint systems
Belts, airbags and head restraints all work together with a vehicle’s structure to protect people in serious crashes. Lap/shoulder belts hold you in place, reducing the chance you’ll slam into something hard or get ejected from the crashing vehicle. If you aren’t belted, you’ll continue moving forward until something suddenly stops you—often a hard interior surface that will cause injuries.
Airbags and lap/shoulder belts together are very effective. Side airbags are designed principally to protect your chest. They may also keep your head from hitting interior or intruding structures.
Head restraints are required in the front seats of all new passenger cars to keep your head from being snapped back, injuring your neck in a rear-end crash. If the restraints are adjustable, make sure they can be locked into place. Some don’t lock, so they can get pushed down in a crash.
5.Anti-lock brakes
When you brake hard with conventional brakes, the wheels may lock and cause skidding and a lack of control. Anti-lock brakes pump brakes automatically many times a second to prevent lockup and allow you to keep control of the car. Anti-lock brakes may help you keep steering control, but they won’t necessarily help you stop more quickly.
6.Daytime running lights
Daytime running lights are activated by the ignition switch. They are typically high-beam headlights at reduced intensity or low-beam lights at full or reduced power. By increasing the contrast between a vehicle and its backgrounds and making the vehicles more visible to oncoming drivers, these lights can prevent daytime accidents.
7.On the road experience
Other design characteristics can influence injury risk on the road. Some small utility vehicles and pickups are prone to rolling over. “High performance” cars typically have higher-than-average death rates because drivers are tempted to use excessive speed. Combining a young driver and a high-performance car can be particularly dangerous.
If a loved one has been injured or killed in a Harrisburg car accident because of another driver or company who may have been driving distracted, contact an experienced wrongful death lawyer and Central Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer at Schmidt Kramer. We can answer any questions or concerns you have about a Harrisburg injury accident in Carlisle, Middletown, Lancaster, Elizabethtown, Hershey, Harrisburg, Lebanon and all of Pennsylvania.
The toll-free number is (717) 888-8888 or 717-888-8888 and the case evaluation is free.