12 Essential Car Safety Features To Check Before You Buy A Car

Check Out These Safety Features Before You Own A Car

Vehicles have become much faster and smarter over the last decade, and with these developments came the introduction of enhanced auto safety measures. However, even with these improved measures, car accident numbers remain alarmingly high. Every year, countless vehicle-related accidents kill or injure thousands of people in India.

Car safety is frequently overlooked when purchasing a new or used vehicle in India. There are hundreds of car inspection tips, which we most often tend to overlook. We discuss legroom, cargo space, and mileage, among other things, but safety features, like all of them, are not optional. Many safety features are now standard in new cars, but older models must be approached with caution. As a result, safety features should be your top priority when purchasing a car.

When discussing vehicular safety, it is critical to consider two aspects: active and passive car safety features. Active car safety features work in real-time to avoid a mishap and are essentially preventive features. On the other hand, passive car safety measures protect the occupants from the worst of an accident when it occurs.

Active Car Safety Features

Active car safety features continuously monitor the car to aid the driver and enhance driving control to avoid accidents. Here is a list of key features that are a must-have in your car.

Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) & Electronic Brake-force Distributions (EBD)

Anti-lock Braking Systems and Electronic Brake-force Distribution are important car safety features that are now standard in all vehicles. Lockups can happen for a variety of reasons, including water, oil, snow, or dirt on the road, as well as panic braking. With the help of ABS, wheel locking is avoided. When a tyre is going to lock up, the ABS releases and then re-engages the brakes, especially on low-friction surfaces or while turning corners. 

• ABS ensures a shorter stopping distance. 
• It keeps brakes from locking up when the brakes are applied with a great deal of pressure.
• It allows the driver to maintain control of steering even while braking, which is crucial in avoiding accidents.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

The ESC prevents a vehicle from spinning its wheels or sliding on low-friction surfaces. It also aids the vehicle in maintaining its line when turning. The ESC system in the car collects data from several sensors located on the wheels and steering wheel. Some sensors assess a vehicle's longitudinal and lateral rotation as well.

• ESC uses computerised sensors to help vehicles avoid sliding or skidding across the road.
• It comes standard on cars built after 2012.
• It's particularly important in bigger vehicles like SUVs which have a greater tendency to roll over.

Cornering Stability Control (CSC)

CSC is a feature of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). It prevents a vehicle from rolling or skidding outwards during curved manoeuvres, especially at high speeds. This technique distributes braking energy to the wheels and ensures that all the vehicle's wheels have traction on the road.

Parking Sensors & Reverse Camera

Given the cramped parking spaces most of us witness, we often require assistance from others to park our cars. This might not be possible every single time, so, this is where parking sensors and cameras come in handy. They help in parking the car safely and prevent you from hitting an obstruction. Sensors and reverse camera become active the moment you shift to reverse gear. 

Speed-sensing Door Lock

When the automobile reaches a specific speed, speed-sensing door lock technology ensures that the doors are automatically locked. It can come in handy in case the driver or any other person forgets to lock the doors.

Read More: 6 important questions to ask before buying a pre-owned car

Passive Car Safety Features

Passive car safety features refer to features that reduce the chance of injury and death when you get into an accident.

Airbags

When a vehicle's sensors detect an impact force that exceeds a predetermined level, the airbags inflate. A little explosive charge located inside the airbag unit has the power to quickly inflate it.

• Airbags help to reduce the risk of injury to the driver and other passengers.
• Crash test shows that side-impact airbags, that protect both the head and chest, are more effective. 

Seatbelts

In case of a collision, a seatbelt is your primary line of defence against injuries and keeps you confined in your seat. It not only keeps you confined but also stops you from being flung around the vehicle or having your body collide with other objects. Seatbelts also have additional built-in features like pre-tensioners and force limiters to increase their efficacy. 

Pretensioners work in tandem with airbags to tighten seatbelts and take up any slack to improve passenger security. Seatbelt force limiters keep seatbelts from putting too much pressure on the body and are meant to relax if a predetermined load is exceeded.

Impact Sensing Door Unlock

After an accident, the occupants of a vehicle are frequently trapped inside because the car doors are locked. Vehicles equipped with impact-sensing door unlock technology to ensure that the doors are unlocked as soon as the vehicle is hit. This enables the passengers to open the doors and get out of the car.

Reinforced B-pillars

Reinforced B-pillars can lessen the impacts of a side collision by absorbing some of the force, which results in the likelihood of the occupant(s) suffering less harm. They also increase the vehicle's overall construction quality and safety as a result.

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Car Safety Rating

Organizations like GNCAP provide safety ratings for new cars which can help you choose the right car with proper safety features. They rate cars in terms of their body shell and structure, foot-well area, adult occupant protection and lastly, child occupant protection.

Car Inspection

Driving an unfamiliar vehicle is very dangerous. So, while buying a pre-owned car, apart from the above-listed features, you also need to get the car properly inspected for various things. 

Listed below are a few cars inspection tips to help you ensure a car is safe to drive:

• Inspect the suspension and brakes of the car
• Look out for any cracks or chips on glass parts
• Inspect the dashboard for any warning lights
• Inspect tyre wear and intensity of headlights 
• Get a mechanic to inspect the engine and all fluids properly

All these car inspection tips are mandatory as they play a crucial role in ensuring your safety. These tips help you repair things before they cause any damage. 

Conclusion

The Indian government has moved quickly in the last half-decade when it comes to car safety features. It has made critical safety equipment mandatory on all cars sold in the country, prompting automakers to offer even more safety features. You can also take a step further and buy safety-feature-rich used cars through the Poonawalla Fincorp Used Car Loan.

However, we believe that if you have the financial means, all the features mentioned in this list should be included in your next vehicle, as they vastly improve your safety on the road. Not only that, but proper use of these safety features and car safety guidelines is also necessary to increase the effectiveness of the onboard safety systems. 

Note: Remember to follow proper car safety guidelines to ensure maximum safety.

Disclaimer

We take utmost care to provide information based on internal data and reliable sources. However, this article and associated web pages provide generic information for reference purposes only. Readers must make an informed decision by reviewing the products offered and the terms and conditions. Pre-Owned Car Loan disbursal is at the sole discretion of Poonawalla Fincorp.
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