It wasn’t too long ago that carmakers were touting advanced safety features like anti-lock brakes and airbags. Now standard features on vehicles include such things as traction control, tire pressure monitoring, and cruise control. As safety features that were once novelties are now expected, engineers continue to develop more devices that keep drivers and passengers safe on the road. The best news? Some of these advanced features could save you money on car insurance.
Collision Warning Systems
Collision warning systems use either cameras or radar to prevent vehicle collisions. If the vehicle senses a collision, it may give an audible warning, a vibration, or it might even apply the brakes on your behalf.
Back-Up Cameras
Nearly 300 people are killed each year and another 18,000 injured in backover accidents. Back-up cameras are popular features that use cameras and sensors to give the driver a clear view and pathway for reversing their vehicle. Now pedestrians and objects are more easily seen, which can prevent unfortunate accidents.
Adaptive Cruise Control
While most cars today have cruise control, adaptive cruise control is a thing of beauty. When operating under cruise control, the feature will use radar sensors to automatically slow your vehicle to match the flow of traffic and then speed back up when the road clears.
Voice Controls
Distracted driving is one of the top causes of vehicle accidents. Vehicles equipped with voice controls that allow drivers to answer the phone, control the stereo, and even change the temperature allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road.
Park Assist (Self-Parking)
Self-parking vehicles first hit the market about ten years ago, and drivers are just now beginning to trust the feature, which will parallel park your car seamlessly when activated.
Lane Departure Warning
The lane departure warning system in your vehicle is going to teach you to pay more attention to the road and to use your turn signal. If your vehicle begins to move outside of its lane without the turn signal activated, this system will let you know. It might give you an audible warning, vibrate your steering wheel, or simply pull the car back into the original lane.
Blind Spot Warning
These systems use either cameras or radar to monitor your vehicle’s blind spot. If another vehicle moves into your blind spot, you’ll receive a lighted warning. If you attempt to change lanes while there is a vehicle in your blind spot, the system will give you an audible alert.
While all of these systems would be nice to have on a vehicle, their adoption as standard features is going to take time. Right now, most are options on new vehicles and safety data remain forthcoming. Several insurers are providing discounts for some of these features including vehicles that have collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure and blind spot warning. Contact us today to get an auto insurance quote and learn about the rest of our auto insurance discounts in California.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
