Whether you have a family to protect or just want to improve your chances of avoiding an accident, it helps to know the safest cars to drive. This list can be especially helpful when you're buying a new car.
Elements of Safety
Safety is about more than just how a car performs in a crash. There's also accident avoidance, design attributes that make a car less likely to roll over or skid out, and safety features that protect a car's occupants.
Safety Features
When shopping for a new vehicle, look for these features if you need one of the safest cars on the road:
- Anti-lock brakes help you avoid skidding when you step hard on the brake pedal. Instead of pumping the brakes the way you had to do in older cars, the anti-lock brake system does this for you. This feature lets you keep control of the car during hard braking.
- Traction control allows your car to sense whether a wheel is slipping on icy or wet roads. Your car then compensates for this slipping, allowing you to retain control.
- Air bags are one of the most important developments in vehicle safety. Most new vehicles feature front airbags, but the safest cars also have side curtain airbags.
- Seat belts are one of the most important safety features in a vehicle. Although they have been around for decades, new advances in technology allow them to be more effective in protecting the occupants of your car.
- LATCH systems allow optimal fastening of a car seat or booster seat. This is important, because a huge percentage of safety seats are installed incorrectly.
Design Features
Certain body styles and design features may make a vehicle more or less likely to be in an accident. Consider the following when looking for a new vehicle:
- Certain car colors are easier to see than others. Silver, for instance, may blend in with the color of the pavement. Yellow is one of the easiest colors to see.
- Some cars have a high center of gravity, which makes them more prone to rolling over. If you're considering an SUV or other tall car, look at the government crash test ratings for a specific model.
- Blind spots can make it hard for you to see other vehicles while you're driving. Test drive a car before buying, and check for blind spots.
Which Are the Safest Cars to Drive?
Although crash test ratings and safety reviews change with each new make and model, some vehicles are consistently ranked among the safest cars on the road:
- Acura TL
- Audi A4
- BMW 3-Series
- Ford Mustang
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Genesis
- Infiniti M37
- Mitsubishi Lancer
- Subaru Impreza
- Subaru Legacy
- Volkswagen Golf
- Volkswagen Passat
If you're considering buying a new car for its safety rating, make sure you get the most recent information about the vehicle. Consider subscribing to a site like Consumer Reports, which tests vehicles based on several handling and crash test parameters.
Other Safety Tips
There's more to vehicle safety than finding the safest cars to drive. You should also consider the following driving behaviors, which can help reduce your chance of an accident:
- Don't allow kids to distract you when driving.
- Try to minimize use of the radio or other controls.
- Leave your headlights on during the day to help other vehicles see you.
- Don't eat or drink while driving.
- If you find you're getting tired, pull over.
- Avoid going through yellow lights.
- Slow down when driving in slippery conditions.
