5 Important Safety Checks to Make on Cars You are Buying

Jun 21
07:58

2011

brant reid

brant reid

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The price of cars for sale is not the only consideration to look at before you buy your dream automobile. If you are safety conscious you will find yo...

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The price of cars for sale is not the only consideration to look at before you buy your dream automobile. If you are safety conscious you will find yourself looking at other factors. Things like how easy it is to secure a child’s seat. How it performs in an emergency and more that I give you below. Safety is never to be taken for granted even when you are reviewing classified ads.  Remember when you are buying you have the dollars and can insist on certain safety features which can be fitted without extra cost.  Here is a list…  1. Crash-test ratings. This is a test that is issued by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS),5 Important Safety Checks to Make on Cars You are Buying  Articles a safety-research group that conducts its own series of crash tests. It mainly tests the car’s structural integrity and ability to protect the area under the driver without collapsing. The score is normally stated as Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor. You need to know this score when checking cars for sale before makings a buy decision.  2. Electronic stability control (ESC).  This is a highly recommended check especially on SUVs. It helps a vehicle be controlled during cornering to prevent from skidding or sliding. When a vehicle starts to go out of control, ESC selectively applies brakes to one or more wheels and cuts engine power to keep the vehicle on course. Its effectiveness depends on how it programmed. It is however, not a cure for poor vehicle handling or a ticket to overcome the laws of physics. It is good to know if the SUV you are about to buy has this system. Some studies estimate that if all cars had ESC, it would save 10,000 lives per year.  3. Rollover resistance. This is especially applicable to taller vehicles, such as SUVs and pickups that are more likely to roll over than passenger cars.  A taller vehicle has a higher center of gravity and in situation of such sudden cornering maneuvers it’s easier to for it to rollover. When out shopping check for what is called Rollover Resistance Rating. Check on this because according some studies, SUVS have a two to three times rollover rate than passenger cars. In fact, in 2006 59% of fatalities on SUVs involved rollover.  4. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) and airbags. Experts recommend getting an anti-lock brake system (ABS). In most cars for sale it may or may not be available. ABS is an important feature, which prevents the wheels from locking up during a hard stop. This is something that can cause the driver to lose control. Airbags must be fitted on every new passenger vehicle by law. Check the sophistication of the system. Get to understand the variables the system uses before the bags inflate.    5. Safety-belt features and child safety. Three-point lap-and-shoulder belts provide the most protection in a crash.  A few vehicles still have only a lap belt in the center-rear position, which if there is a crash allows the upper part of the body to move forward. The comfort of the belt is also important.  Child safety is of critical importance. Have a look at the compatibility of the car's seat and the child seat. Test the tightness if you must. 

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