Your Car is More Than Just Seatbelts and Airbags: Learn About the Basic Safety Features | Scott's Fort Collins Auto

Your Car is More Than Just Seatbelts and Airbags: Learn About the Basic Safety Features

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Your car comes equipped with a lot more than seatbelts and airbags to keep you safe. In this article, you’ll learn what you need to know about the basic safety features of most cars and how they keep you safe while you’re on the road. Additionally, we’ll give you some tips on how to make the most of those safety features to keep you and your passengers safe! 

Basic Car Safety Features  

Seat Belts

Seatbelts are made of strong webbing material that can stretch during a collision but return to its original shape when it’s over, keeping passengers inside their car seats. They help keep drivers and passengers from being ejected through windshields or windows if they’re not closed completely or otherwise damaged.  Studies show that seatbelts reduce the overall risk for serious injuries in crashes by about 60%, and seatbelts reduce the risk for fatalities by approximately 45%.

Airbags

The next safety feature to know about is the airbag. Airbags inflate when a car collides with another vehicle or object, such as a tree or light pole. They help cushion passengers from impact and reduce the risk of serious injury for those sitting in front seats (although they can affect drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts).

Traction Control

Many cars also have a safety system called “traction control,” which uses anti-lock brakes and engine speed to stop drivers from losing control in inclement weather or slippery conditions.

Cameras

Most cars these days come equipped with a rearview camera. When activated, the camera displays an image of what is behind your car on the infotainment system (or even in some cases outside mirrors), so drivers can see objects when backing up without having to turn around or rely on their own judgment.

Additional safety features include:

-Anti-lock brakes are designed to help the driver maintain control of the car while braking, especially on slippery roads.

–Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps drivers keep their car on track in various weather conditions by automatically reducing engine power when needed and applying brake force to individual wheels as necessary. These systems are highly recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

-Crumple zones absorb energy from a collision and keep you safe by allowing your car to collapse around you.

Safe Driving Tips

As you can see, there are many different safety features in modern cars that help keep drivers and passengers safe on the road. These systems work best when they’re used correctly by everyone who is inside your car. Here are some tips to ensure optimal use of these advanced technologies:

-Make sure all occupants know where the airbags are located in their cars and how to properly use them.

-Make sure you know where the manual release lever is located in case an airbag deploys while your car isn’t turned on or if it’s stuck in a tight space. Some vehicles have switches that allow drivers to turn off the front passenger side airbag when children are riding there, making it safer for them.

-Use your car’s safety features in conjunction with good driving habits and common sense when you’re on the road: stay off of your phone, buckle up every time you get into a vehicle, don’t drive when it’s too dark or icy outside, etc.

-Don’t let your car go too long without an oil change or tune up, which can damage the engine and prevent safety features from working properly if they’re needed in a dangerous situation.

Stay Safe with Scott’s Auto

Your safety is important to us at Scott’s Auto. If your can is overdue for a tuneup, or you’ve noticed a problem, stop on by one of our convenient Colorado locations. Our team of professionals wants to make sure you stay safe on the road. Come see us today!

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