Making sure a secondhand car is safe is crucial if you’re looking to buy one. When assessing a car’s safety, there are a number of important considerations, ranging from how well it performs in emergency situations and its ability to prevent collisions to how simple it is to fasten a child seat. Take into account all pertinent safety ratings and features when evaluating various cars. Here, we list five essential safety precautions you should consider before making your ultimate buying choice. Discover more?
1. ESC, or electronic stability control
It is strongly advised to use electronic stability control, particularly for SUVs. Through the prevention of sliding or skidding, ESC aids in maintaining vehicle control when cornering. The system keeps the car on course by lowering engine power and applying brakes to various wheels selectively. ESC can dramatically lower the rollover danger for SUVs. Although it improves a car’s handling, it can’t break the laws of physics and isn’t a perfect fix for cars that handle poorly.
2. Resistance to Rollover
Compared to passenger automobiles, SUVs and pickups are more likely to turn over. SUV rollover rates might be up to three times higher than those of passenger cars, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Compared to just 25% of passenger car fatalities, rollovers were implicated in 59% of SUV fatalities and 48% of truck fatalities in 2006, according to statistics. Taller vehicles are more likely to flip over during abrupt maneuvers due to their greater center of gravity.
3. ABS, or antilock brake system
The majority of cars are equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS), which is an essential safety element. ABS keeps the car under control and lets the driver maneuver in an emergency by preventing wheel locking during sudden stops. ABS’s main advantage is keeping the car stable, even if it frequently leads to shorter stopping distances.
4. Preventing Accidents
Just as important as a car’s crash resilience is its capacity to help you avoid collisions. Emergency handling and braking effectiveness are crucial elements. Other elements that affect driver weariness include sight, acceleration, driving position, and seat comfort.
5. Air Bags
Dual front airbags are legally needed in all new passenger cars, though they might vary in sophistication. Examine the kind of airbag systems that are installed in the car. The “smart” air-bag systems seen in many high-end, contemporary cars use electronic sensors to evaluate things like collision severity, seatbelt use, driver seat position, and passenger weight or position. The system can adjust how the front and side airbags deploy thanks to these features.
You’ll be in a better position to select a used automobile that keeps you and your passengers safe on the road if you carefully consider these safety factors.