Car Safety
If you are like most people, you assume the best. That means that when you get into an automobile–yours or someone else’s–you assume you are getting into a vehicle that is safe. But sadly, that is not always the case. And most people are not even aware of the possible dangers.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
If buying a car or SUV, consider choosing one with ESC. This feature is becoming more widely available either as standard equipment or as an option on new vehicles. Although given different names by different vehicle manufacturers, the function is the same: to help the driver maintain control in slippery pavement conditions or when a vehicle is skidding, by the computer-driven application of braking and/or torque to selected wheels.
Tires
Check weekly or at least monthly to make sure that your tires are inflated to the right pressure. The correct tire size and tire pressure to use on a vehicle is indicated in the vehicle Owners Manual and on the driver’s door placard. Never put tires older than six years on your vehicle–even if the tires have seen little use (like a spare) and the tread looks good. All tires, including new tires, begin to disintegrate internally after about six years, potentially leading to the tire suddenly “blowing apart” on the highway.
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs)
If you own an SUV, use the tire size and rating recommended in the vehicle’s Owner Manual or on the driver’s door placard. Using larger tires might raise the vehicle and provide a better view of the road, or make the vehicle look better, but even a slight increase in height–even an inch–will make most SUVs much more prone to rolling over. The performance of SUV suspension systems is tuned for particular types of tires and can be altered by changing to a type of tire other than that which is recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Airbags
Airbags have tremendous potential to prevent injury and save lives, but only when used in conjunction with seat belts. Seatbelts are the first and best means of protection in a crash. Airbags are supplemental. Not wearing a seatbelt when an airbag deploys could easily lead to serious, even life-threatening, injuries due to being too close to the airbag when it deploys. Consequently, drivers should always sit as far away from the steering wheel as is comfortable to drive. People who are small in stature should purchase a vehicle equipped with pedal extenders (usually optional). Look for a vehicle equipped with both frontal and side airbags. The frontal airbag should be a “smart” airbag, meaning that it is capable of sensing the distance of the occupant from the airbag using the occupant’s weight, or seat distance from the airbag, and adjusting the power of the bag accordingly.
Seat belts
Always wear seat belts. Assure that they are snug across the pelvic bone and across the chest if there is a shoulder restraint. Never wear the shoulder belt without the lap belt. Never put the shoulder harness behind you. If the vehicle is involved in anything more than a parking lot fender bender, have all seat belts that were being worn at the time checked by a dealer for the vehicle manufacturer to see if any need replacing. Keep the receipt for the work in a safe place.
Seat position
Adjust your seat as far from the dashboard and steering wheel as is comfortable. This position affords the most protection from hitting something in front of you during a crash, and especially in case of airbag inflation. Seat strength varies widely among vehicles and it is impossible to tell a seat’s strength merely by looking at it. Unfortunately, manufacturers rarely mention this fact in their brochures. A rule of thumb is to look for a vehicle where the front seat shoulder belt is attached to the seat.
Babies and small children
Babies and small children should always be secured in car seats appropriate for their height and weight. Keep increasing the size of the child seat as they grow, keeping them in a car seat as long as possible before switching to a booster seat. If the seatbelt runs alongside the neck rather than across the shoulder, it is an improper fit and is potentially life-threatening! Children between the ages of 8 and 12 are the most difficult to fit with seatbelts and may still require some form of booster seat to obtain a proper fit. Even the best car seat is useless if it is not fastened properly per the seat manufacturer’s instructions. Look for a design that has a top tether that securely anchors to a rigid portion of the seat back. NEVER let a child wear their seat belt with the shoulder portion of the seat belt under their arm or behind their back.
