Car manufacturer marketing materials make a big deal of the safety features they embellish their new vehicles with. No doubt, many people choose their new car because of it.
Yet the issue with many in-car safety features is that they only work if you know how to use them. Many car owners don’t, so the extra money they pay for them goes to waste.
Trusting too much can also be dangerous
Some vehicles have features that help you avoid a collision, but at the end of the day, what is most important is how you drive.
Research suggests some people believe their car features provide a cloak of invincibility. They take less care or push beyond what they know to be sensible limits, in the belief that the car will pull them back if they go too far.
How can you learn more about what your vehicle can and cannot do?
Firstly, you can ask the dealer to explain more about each feature. They will be only too happy to extoll the virtues of each feature, as they consider them to be selling points.
Secondly, you can read the owner’s manual. There is a lot more information in it than most people realize. It covers everything from the correct tire pressure to how to set up your cruise control, from what that flashing dashboard light means to how to adjust your seatbelt.
It’s also important to remember that no car can guarantee your safety because so much depends on the other drivers around you. One mistake by another driver can breach all your safety systems, leaving you with injuries that need compensation.