Thelen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Jan 31, 2018

Safety first

It’s your worst nightmare. Your kids are driving to the grocery store and then you get a phone call. Accidents happen, but we want them to happen as infrequently as possible; and when they do happen, we want the effects to be minimal.

This can be achieved through testing vehicles in real-life crash simulations and applying knowledge gained to vehicle technology that helps drivers avoid accidents or mitigates damage when an accident occurs. There are, however three key things that you can look for if you are looking into how safe a vehicle may be.

  1. Crash Test Rating

Vehicle safety ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts tests that evaluate “crashworthiness” and “crash avoidance and mitigation.”

Crashworthiness – How well occupants are protected

Crash avoidance and mitigation – Technology that prevents or mitigates the severity of a crash.

Crashworthiness ratings include the designations:

  • Good
  • Acceptable
  • Marginal
  • Poor

The IIHS also uses this rating system for vehicle headlights.

Vehicles that include front crash prevention systems are rated basic, advanced, or superior.

The criteria IIHS uses for vehicle safety rating includes:

  1. Driver-side small overlap front
  2. Passenger-side small overlap front
  3. Moderate overlap front
  4. Side
  5. Roof strength
  6. Head restraints

When shopping for a new vehicle, do your homework and visit IIHS’ site to view the report on vehicles you are interested in.

  1. Crash Avoidance Technology

Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA)

LDW warns and LKA assists. Easy enough! 70% of consumers say they are “very satisfied” with both Lane Departure Warning and Lane-Keeping Assist, according to Consumer Reports.

How does it work?

Lane-Keeping Assist uses the painted lines on the road to keep you … well … within the lines! If you drift you will hear an alert, your dashboard will light up, or your steering wheel or seat will vibrate. If you don’t act to correct your position on the road, the system will glide away from the line, doing it for you. Turning your wheel deactivates the system.

A couple downsides are that it doesn’t work in winter when the system can’t see the lines! The other issue is that if you are pulling toward the median to give cyclists and pedestrians space, the system thinks you’re drifting and will drift back to “correct” you. This can scare the driver and the cyclist. Just make sure if you’re allowing others room on the road to turn the wheel to deactivate the system.

The technology still has a lot of room to grow, but consumers who have used it appreciate the technology. If you haven’t had enough coffee or on a long drive and start to drift off to sleep or you become distracted by siblings in the back seat, the car can jolt you awake so you pay attention to the road.

It can also make drivers follow polite etiquette. When you turn on your blinker the system deactivates, as it knows you intend to turn. Therefore, if you’re not using your blinker when you’re passing on the highway, your car will remind you – and others with the technology – to be courteous. If the technology doesn’t save your life, it could just save you a traffic ticket!

  1. Spare Tire Location

“Where’s the spare?”

This is a question you don’t want to be asking yourself when you’re on the side of the road with a flat.

That’s why it’s good to know one of the newest trends in the car manufacturing industry. The trend? Some cars today aren’t coming with spare tires. In its absence, you might find a tire-inflator kit, air compressor, and a can of sealant.

This is an important question to ask when you are looking for a new vehicle: does it come equipped with a spare tire? That way you can make an informed decision.

Many carmakers eliminated spare tires to improve fuel economy – and reduce production costs. Some car manufacturers provide an inflator kit, and others provide run-flat tires, which can be driven for limited distance. Keep in mind that run-flat tires are often more expensive to replace and don’t ride as smoothly.

Some manufacturers have also stopped providing spare tires because today’s tires are more reliable than they were in the past.

Spares can run 45-pounds, reducing your gas mileage just in order to haul around a part you’re not using. However, inflator kits are only useful if you have a small puncture in the tread. For a sidewall puncture or worse you’re out of luck.

This means you’ll have to call a tow truck and hope there’s a replacement tire available that doesn’t need to be ordered. Depending on if you drive during the day or late at night, repair shops could be closed for the night, making their tire selection irrelevant.

So, what’s a car buyer to do?

First assess your needs. Where do you live? Where do you usually drive your car or truck?

If you’re out in the country a spare tire could save you a huge tow truck bill. If it’s going to take a while for a tow truck to reach you, having a spare could save you from running out of gas to keep warm while you’re waiting for assistance. Depending on how far away you are from civilization this could be dangerous, especially for the elderly and children.

If you’re driving in town, a short distance to the nearest gas station isn’t such a big deal. If parts need to be ordered it’s easy to get home anyway. Ditching a spare could save gas money and the environment.

The important thing is that you’ve thought about what makes sense for you. Many car models that don’t come with spares have kits or spare tires you can purchase separately. Inquire if the vehicle you’re interested in is one of them. The key is to find out before you find yourself on the road shoulder making calls!

Contact us

Call or stop by Thelen Auto Group to discuss what features to look for in a car when safety is at the top of your list of “must haves.” We’re happy to share our knowledge with our customers so you can drive home with peace of mind.

Links:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a26194/not-having-a-spare-tire-is-stupid-and-dangerous/

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/10/where-the-heck-is-my-spare-tire/index.htm

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/lane-departure-warning-lane-keeping-assist-guide/

https://mycardoeswhat.org/safety-features/lane-keeping-assist/