If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you’re likely going to want to make sure that it keeps you and your family as safe as possible. While looking at vehicle ratings is one thing, there are numerous metrics to take into consideration when determining whether a given automobile is going to be the right fit for you. A new report explains how to ensure your purchasing decision is well-informed.
Research is going to be your most powerful tool, and that research really should start with vehicle ratings handed out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The two organizations carry out testing in different ways. With the IIHS, you’re looking out for the Top Safety Pick tag, which signals that a vehicle obtained a Good rating on at least four out of five tests. With the NHTSA, you’re looking to see how an automobile fared overall and in one of numerous tests, all based on a five star rating scale.
You’re then going to want to look into various systems which can further boost safety on the road. When it comes to technology, it might be best not to wait until mandates come down from the government. Things like rearview cameras aren’t required yet on all new vehicles, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth pursuing given the benefit to safety. The same goes for systems that warn of imminent collisions and even initiate automatic braking to prevent crashes.