Must-Have Safety Features for Your Used Car

Safety in Cars

The car industry lately has made tremendous advances in the fast-paced world where innovation and reliability go hand in hand. Modern cars come with an impressive set of safety features which are based on the ratings of a vehicle.

In a country like India, with many car enthusiasts, the primary authority responsible for assigning safety ratings is the Global NCAP (GNCAP). It conducts comprehensive tests on cars launched and available in the Indian market to assess their performance.

However, a GNCAP safety rating is not the ultimate word. There are a lot of safety features, like advanced braking systems and intelligent driver assistance technologies, that industriously work together to provide a comfortable and secure experience. Whether you are a safety-conscious driver seeking enhanced protection or a tech enthusiast eager for the latest advancements, you are sure to find reasons to continue reading!

Importance of Safety in Cars

Safety features in vehicles or cars include a wide array of systems and technologies designed and programmed to protect occupants/drivers and minimise the impact and risk of road accidents. The safety features programmed in the cars act as a crucial line of defence in critical situations. These features safeguard the drivers and passengers in the car from potential harm and loss of life.

With critical progress in automotive engineering, carmakers are continually integrating innovative technologies for safety to enhance and heighten the overall safety of vehicles.

Key Importance of Car Safety

• Avoiding Accidents

Car technologies like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring provide visual and audible alerts to drivers, enabling them to stay attentive and avoid potential mishaps.

• Minimising Impact

Safety features are engineered to minimize or reduce the severity of injuries. Advanced braking systems like anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) help balance and control sudden manoeuvres and prevent skidding.

• Protecting People Inside

Passive safety features play a vital role during a collision, protecting the people inside a car. Features like airbags, seat belts and reinforced structures are a few examples.

• Enhancing Safety on Roads

Vehicle safety features not only protect the passengers and driver driving the car/vehicle but contribute to overall road safety. Examples of such technologies include automatic emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive headlights that help mitigate risks and improve visibility, minimizing the likelihood of accidents.

Active Safety Vs Passive Safety

• Active Safety

Self-explanatory as its name, active safety features play an active role in keeping your car safe and reducing the chances of an accident. It continually monitors one or more aspects of your car for potential risks. Common active safety features in a car include an Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS),Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and so on

• Passive Safety

Features under passive safety come into play when an accident has happened. Passive safety systems prevent the driver and other occupants in the car from getting injured by reducing the impact of the mishap. Common passive safety features include seatbelts, airbags, ISOFIX mounts, crumple zones, and so on. Always be mindful that the majority of passive safety systems work only when you wear your seatbelt! Therefore, it is mandatory to wear your seatbelt at all times when travelling in a car.

How Do Car Safety Features Work?

Officialdoms like GNCAP provide safety ratings for new cars. There is a criterion that the GNCAP follows when it comes to rating cars.

• Body structure and shell
• Foot-well area
• Adult occupant protection
• Child occupant protection

Along with this, The Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has proposed that automakers use 70 % of galvanized steel for car body panels. Car manufacturers presently use only 30 % of galvanized steel for the Indian market. Whereas for exports, it rises to 70%. Galvanized steel is nothing but a zinc coating applied to the steel. It avoids corrosion, protecting the structural safety and the longevity of the car.

Car Safety Features That Are a Must-Have in Your Car

Other features that contribute to the car safety technology that has taken over the car industry are as follows:

• Airbags
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Adjustable Steering
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• ISOFIX Mounts
• Parking Sensors/Camera
• Lane Departure Warning
• Blind Spot Detection and Warning

Bottom Line

In a busy and crowded country like India, along with the given road conditions and traffic situations, it is paramount to keep car safety features a priority. Features mentioned above such as ABS, ESC, airbags, seat belts with pretensioners, and rear parking sensors/cameras enable critical protection and improve driver confidence. To top off that features like HSA, ISOFIX anchors, TPMS, and engine immobilisers further contribute to overall safety, making sure you are not only safe in your car, but confident while in it. By buying cars equipped with these must-have safety features, car buyers can ensure a safe and stress-free driving experience on the varied and challenging roads of the nation