Day 1: Tips to Buying a Safer Car

When buying a new or used car, you’ll consider its reliability, price and gas mileage. While important, it’s a car’s safety rating that affects your likelihood of injury and repair costs.

Luckily, the latest safety features are not just for the newest or most expensive cars. Here are my recommended Top Three features to have:

1. Anti-lock Brakes. They help prevent a vehicle’s wheels from locking during “panic” braking or braking on slippery surfaces. This allows greater steering control as the vehicle slows. And remember, you must stomp hard on ABS brakes. Don’t pump them.
2. Electronic Stability Control. Also known as ESC, StabiliTrak, AdvanceTrac or Vehicle Skid Control, it helps you maintain control during extreme steering maneuvers. I consider this technology to be the most important vehicle safety innovation since the seat belt!
3. Air Bags. The more the better. Most vehicles have frontal bags, and many newer vehicles have side and rollover ones. Of course, they are only effective if you wear your seatbelt and seat children appropriately.

And one last thought – be very careful in what car you choose for your teen. The older the car, the less safety devices it will have. Sadly, crash statistics tell us teen drivers need them the most.