Safety Features to Look For in Every Vehicle

 

For many buyers, the deciding factor in which car to purchase is not whether a car will have all the desirable bells and whistles, but rather, which car will have all the “talked about” features. In other words, most consumers are interested in which car will have the most “Featureful” features. The importance of the so-called must-haves can be so powerful that it often takes precedence over all else, cost, reliability, brand loyalty or even your own better judgment; sure, your car does have 200,000 miles on it and no significant service history but what about that sunroof?

I can hear all the jockeys in the auto industry screaming, “But what about the automatic emergency braking?! Or the backup camera?” Well, actually, I am not. I recently drove across the country in an old Oldsmobile along with my friend Tom. We both had the latest GPS features and Tom was insisting that our feature was not important enough to be on top of the list. automoiblenewsify

When Tom and I stopped for gas, I asked him why he wanted the remote start so bad. His response was simple: He said that his wife wanted a remote start on her newer Prius; she said she wished she could start it when we were out of fuel. Apparently, her new ride also had a heated steering wheel and he was eager to find and replace the heating element. Tom was not satisfied with just automatic emergency braking and a backup camera. He mentioned that he also wanted to have a remote start, but did not feel comfortable purchasing an aftermarket unit for his car.

Recently, I was talking to an interesting gentleman who is a delivery driver. He explained that he could not stay in one of the new cars that he delivers if he did not have something to do besides drive the truck. After being on many trucks, he decided that he wanted a feature that would allow him to keep his hands free while he drove. I mentioned the remote start feature in my previous article; however, he did not realize that you can also purchase a feature that will keep your hands away from the steering wheel when you are driving. These are called forbes.

Of course, these items were recently added to some models, so you may have to go to several auto manufacturers to find them. Still, they are worth looking into and checking out the consumer reports to see what other consumers have to say about the feature. Some of the most common reactions are:

One of the biggest complaints that we hear is that many drivers do not like the feature because it makes it harder to get in and out of the vehicle. Many people are just fine with getting in and out of the vehicle without having to get on and off the seat. If this is the case with you, then you should look at other options that car manufacturers have to make this easier. For instance, some of the newer hatchbacks now feature a second door that can simply be opened to gain access.

Another common complaint is that the feature makes older drivers who are not taller or have a short leg span uncomfortable. This is especially true for coupe entry-level cars, which are made to accommodate taller drivers. You will notice that most coupe cars now come with a feature that lowers the rear of the trunk in order to clear the extra height of taller drivers.

No matter what your personal preferences, safety features are still must-haves for safety reasons. If you find yourself putting your feet up on the dashboard of your car or truck, you are running a risk of falling down or hitting your head on the dashboard if it is not supported properly. Additionally, there are times when you may want to sit in a lower position on your truck to prevent it from tipping over. Many trucks do not offer a good height range for these positions, so you may have to settle for something a little less comfortable if you want to save space. These are two of the main safety features that every car should feature, as they help drivers stay safe and keep their feet on the floor. Even if you decide that these features are unnecessary elements of your driving lifestyle, you never know when they could save your life.