| There is no doubt that safety should be one of | | | | ESC helps drivers to avoid crashes by reducing |
| your most important considerations when looking | | | | the danger of skidding. It does this through the |
| to buy a new or used car. Unfortunately, safety | | | | use of sensors that detect loss of control and |
| is something that a majority of car buyers take | | | | then automatically applies the brake to the |
| for granted. | | | | relevant wheel, effectively bringing the car back |
| Research shows that the safest cars on the road | | | | on its intended path. Statistics vary worldwide, |
| can offer up to five times more protection to | | | | however most experts agree that ESC reduces |
| drivers and passengers in crashes than those that | | | | the risk of single vehicle crashes by an estimated |
| meet the minimum standards. That is a significant | | | | 40%. |
| statistic, that can quite literally mean the | | | | Side curtain airbags deploy from the top of a cars |
| difference between life and death. | | | | door rails, above the side window. They are |
| The number of safety features offered by | | | | designed to protect a driver's head in a side |
| makes and models is growing daily. Although, in a | | | | impact crash. Research conducted in the USA |
| majority of cases, a modern car will provide a | | | | estimates that side curtain airbags have the |
| better level of protection in a crash than an older | | | | potential to reduce driver deaths in the event of |
| one, this is not always the case. Furthermore, not | | | | a side impact crash by around 40%. |
| all modern cars are equipped with the same level | | | | Safety features such as ESC and side curtain |
| of safety features. | | | | airbags aren't available in all vehicles, but they |
| Two key safety features to ask for when buying | | | | should be! It is your own best interests to ask for |
| a new car are Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | | | | features such as these when you are looking to |
| and side curtain airbags. ESC is considered to be | | | | buy your next car. Hopefully you will never need |
| an 'active' safety feature in that it can help a | | | | to use them, but if you are unlucky enough to be |
| driver to avoid a crash. Side curtain airbags are | | | | involved in a crash, then you just might be |
| consider to be 'passive' safety features, in that | | | | thankful that you took the time to buy a safe |
| that help to protect drivers and passengers when | | | | car. |
| a crash cannot be avoided. | | | | |