SHOPPING FOR A SAFER VEHICLE

Are you thinking about buying a car, minivan, SUV or pickup? Which one is right for you? If you’re looking for safety as a factor in your choice, then you probably want to know what the safest one to buy is.

Safety includes numerous aspects, and the price of the vehicle is not always an indication of which one is safer. All vehicles have basic features to help reduce the likelihood of having a crash, such as lights and brakes.

A new technology that is proving effective is Electronic Stability Control. You will find that this safety feature goes by a variety of trade names (Stabilitrak, Stability Assist, etc.) but the systems are basically the same. The systems are an extension of anti-lock brake technology and may help drivers contain control of the vehicle in the worst possible situation –loss of control at high speed. This technology lowers the risk of a fatal single vehicle crash by about 50 percent, so it’s worth shopping for.

However, you can’t always count on avoiding a crash, despite your best efforts. So, the most important shopping tip is to choose a crashworthy vehicle – one that has safety features that may reduce death and injury risk during a crash.

After you determine the vehicle type and size that suites your need, you can research crashworthiness ratings by visiting these websites: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx or National Highway Safety Administration - www.nhtsa.gov/cars/testing /ncap.

Remember, while the color of the vehicle is often the most debate item, safety should be your primary concern. Safety features can help you avoid crashes as well as protect you if and when a crash occurs.

Source: State Farm Insurance