Inside: 10 Must-Have Safety Features in a Family Car. Collaborative post.
Buying the ideal family car is all about choosing the right safety features. This is a big investment, especially when you consider all the time you and your family will be spending on the road with kids in tow. Studies show that high-tech safety features can lower one’s risk of accident, injury, and fatalities on the road.
So what are the 10 safety features that most motorists should look for in a family car?
Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist
They are two different systems, but to keep this section short, we will consider them under one heading because they both keep your car in the lane. Lane departure detects when your car is drifting out of its lane and sounds an alarm, whether it’s audio or visual. Lane keep assist utilizes video feedback to detect lane markings ahead of the car and gently steers it back into the lane.
It’s worth noting that this system may not work properly if the lines are faint. In this case, it’s better to switch the system off. Clear lane markings help, and basic checks can catch issues early. A vehicle inspection mirror with wheels can help you spot wear or damage underneath before it turns into a bigger problem.
Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)
The antilock braking system (ABS)prevents your wheels from locking and enables safe braking. ABS does this by using sensors that can detect when wheels are about to lockup. If a lockup is detected, the ABPS pumps the brake. This safety feature gives more control to drivers in emergency situations.
These days, many manufacturers have perfected ABS so it won’t create as much vibration and noise when it gets activated. The Mazda CX-5 goes another step further with pedestrian detection to stop the vehicle with emergency braking if the driver fails to respond, this will stop the car or slow it down to reduce the impact of a collision.
Sensors and cameras are used to determine if the car is in danger of an immediate collision.
Stability Control
Stability control is particularly important for drivers who are inexperienced on the road. It prevents a loss of control by automatically applying the brakes at a wheel that is slipping. Experienced motorists can also face difficulty when trying to gain traction, so stability control can be great for everyone.
Stability control is particularly important if you plan on giving the car to a younger family member.
Advanced Airbags – Front and Side
These days, most cars are fitted with airbags on the front and back seats. You want to make sure your kids are protected in the event of a collision. Make sure the side airbags can expand to protect everyone in the car.
A good airbag system also comes with sensors that can determine various factors such as seat position, crash severity, and passenger size before deploying. More importantly, this system also lowers the risk of an airbag-related injury to children and smaller adults.
Blind Spot Monitoring
Blind spot monitoring (BSM) is an advanced safety feature designed to alert the driver of vehicles that are out of their view. In other words, it keeps the motorist from running into another vehicle that is driving in the same direction in an adjacent lane. BSM also warns you when vehicles are approaching from the rear by activating small orange lights on the car’s door mirrors.
Rear-view Camera
It’s easy to see what’s in front of you, but you can’t tell what’s behind you. A rear-view camera is becoming increasingly important because it can assist a driver when they are reversing the vehicle. The camera uses wide angle lenses to provide the driver with a detailed view of the back.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) uses radar and various sensors mounted inside the grille to keep the vehicle at a safe distance and activate the brakes when the traffic ahead starts slowing down. ACC is very useful on long highway drives or in heavy traffic. If it detects an inevitable collision, the ACC system activates the brakes and tightens your seatbelts.
The system has the ability to bring the car to a complete stop and start acceleration. Some systems use ultrasonic sensors to pull data about the car’s environment and surroundings.
Lots of Storage Space
When you’re driving a car full of small children, you need a vehicle with adequate seating space for everyone to travel in relative comfort and safety. In the case of younger children, you may need to install more than one booster seat without cramping up the place.
In addition, you will need lots of boot space to pack groceries, equipment, diaper bags, clothes, food, or anything else you may need for the day. Boot space comes in handy when you are taking the family on a vacation and are planning to pack half the house in the car.
The Mazda CX- 5 offers a flat, wide load bay with about 506 litres of space – which is plenty for most families.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
A tyre pressure monitoring system uses sensors installed in each wheel to keep you updated about the pressure in your tyres. When the air pressure drops below the manufacturer’s recommended level, the sensor sends that information to the car’s computer system, which then activates the indicator light on your dashboard.
We recommend checking the tyre pressure on a regular basis – because you won’t know if the tyre pressure monitoring system is providing accurate recordings.
Automatic Crash Notification
If you and your loved ones encounter an accident on the road, you will need help as soon as possible. It may not be possible to reach your phone and call for help and there may be no one around to inform the authorities. An automatic crash notification system automatically sends a signal to an operator who will attempt to reach the driver, assess the damage, and send help.
Wrap Up
It’s worth doing your homework on the different safety features of a family car. Check out various online reviews, dealership websites, and question sales reps – always keeping the needs of your family in mind. Try each vehicle to see if it has the right features for your family.