Is Your Car Safe?
If you are unsure about the safety of your vehicle, there are ways to check. NHTSA has a program that rates a new cars safety based on crash test results. It is called the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). It is based on a 5 star rating system with 5 stars being the best and safest. You can visit www.nhtsa.gov to check your car. You must be aware that the ratings are only correct for a size classification. So you may have smaller car with a 5 star rating, but it may not be as safe a larger vehicle with a 5 star rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org) also does crash testing. Head restraint safety for most new cars is rated by IIHS (www.iihs.org) as well.
The following safety systems can reduce the chances for a crash:
• Antilock brakes (ABS)
• Electronic stability programs (ESP)
• All wheel drive
• Active cruise control
• Crash warning sensors
• High intensity output headlights