New technologies have revolutionized vehicle safety features that many think all new models should now have - cameras, sensors and special alerts that can take over at a moment's notice. But are they enough?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that these tools cannot replace a fundamentally sound steel skeleton, says The Wall Street Journal. However, many manufacturers may need to re-evaluate their safety standards in order to keep up with the market demands and revamped crash testing, returning their focus back to crash-protection instead of crash-avoidance.
Testing methods usually cover side-impact and head-on collisions, but recent expansions have changed that. Vulnerable areas that were previously untested are now drawing attention and forcing automakers to take a look at their designs. While recent trends push for smaller, lighter cars, results from the Insurance Institute show that heavier cars are safer in crashes. Manufacturers must now try to reconcile the two sides in order to produce a safe, marketable vehicle.
There are steps you can take to make sure your existing car is safe. The best thing to do is to keep up scheduled vehicle maintenance in order to ensure that all tools are in full working condition. A regular car tune up is the first line of defense when it comes to preventing crashes and malfunctions.