Car safety is not just about airbags and seatbelts anymore. As manufacturers roll out new vehicle models, they release more advanced safety systems such as radar-based collision and advanced driver-assistance systems.
These new features have been successfully aiding drivers in preventing crashes. The following advanced safety features are now standard in recent car models:
- Automatic emergency brakes
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind spot sensors
- Collision risk warnings
- Road sign and cross-traffic alerts
- Sensors detecting pedestrians
- Lane departure alert system
According to recent research, these features can reduce damages caused by accidents. They found that vehicles with these functions have 27% less physical injury claim frequency and 19% fewer instances of property damage.
Cars with advanced features can be more expensive
A car with these features might help ensure your safety, but are you willing to pay more? Aside from the outright and monthly payments for the vehicle, you should also consider repair and maintenance costs.
If any of these advanced features fail, you could end up with a bill significantly larger than fixing older vehicle models. According to a recent study, minimal damage to these parts could cost an additional $3,000 in repairs.
Impact on car insurance
As cars become more efficient at preventing collisions, researchers believe that auto insurers also need to adjust their products. Instead of focusing on accident claims, they would need to provide packages with coverage for vehicle theft and unauthorized entry.
They also need to consider provisions that cover vehicle software and hardware failures related to these advanced systems. It might not be the norm today, but studies project that these cars will soon become more common on U.S. roads.