Safety Technology has experienced a quantum leap in the last few years, with advances spurred by the government in an effort to lessen loss of life and injury, as well as automakers seeking a competitive edge. I asked Jody Victor to continue his tips on safety features.
Jody Victor: In recent surveys of consumers, more than two-thirds of respondents ranked safety as the most important technology to have in their automobiles, and seven out of 10 were willing to pay extra for safety features. Here's part II of what's available.
Tire-Pressure Monitor - Starting in the 2008 model year, the Feds will require all new vehicles to include tire-pressure-monitoring systems, which use sensors to provide information on tire inflation to a display in the instrument panel. Vehicles ranging from sports cars to SUVs already allow drivers to check tire pressure on the fly, and some show pressure in individual tires.
Rollover Protection - Manufacturers first offered airbag systems that inflate from the headliner or ceiling in top-heavy SUVs to protect occupants in case of the window surface in the first two rows of seats in Ford, Mercury and Lincoln SUVs, and the system is also available on the Volvo and Land Rover SUVs, as well as on the Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and the Volvo C70 convertible.
Head-Up Display - Looking away from the road for even a few seconds can be dangerous. By projecting vital information from the speedometer, tach or vavigation system on the windsheild, a head-up display (HUD) allows drivers to keep their eyes straight ahead.
Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System - While head-up displays let you keep your eyes on the road, Bluetooth lets you keep your hands on the wheel when using a mobile phone. The technology establishes a wireless connection with a compatible phone so that calls can be made and received using buttons on the steering wheel and voice commands.
Voice Activation - Using voice activation, you can change a radio station or adjust the volume on the audio system, raise and lower the temperature of the climate control, even enter destinations into a nav system - all without lifting a hand off of the wheel.
Navigation Systems - GPS navigation systems take the guesswork out of getting where you're going - and are much safer than reading a map behind the wheel. The issue turn-by-turn guidance and will reroute you if you miss a turn. These are available separately and the prices are really getting affordable.
Adaptive Cruise Control - Adaptive Cruise Control automatically keeps a safe distance between you and the car ahead so that the driver doesn't constantly have to adjust the speed. A radar sensor monitors the distance and speed of vehicles in front of you, and most systems allow selecting a gap with which you're most comfortable.
Rearview Camera - Rear-vision cameras first appeared on usper-sized SUVs to help drivers see behind the vehicles. But they are now available on luxury and sports cars as well as minivans and crossovers. Some also include visual aids that allow aligning a vehicle with an intended parking spot.
Obstacle Sensors - As with rear-vision cameras, obstacle sensors can help make you aware of objects you wouldn't normally see. The systems detect objects in close proximity to the behicle and issue audible and/or visual warnings.
Emergency Response - OnStar and similar telematics services are known for "concierge" features such as unlocking doors and providing directions. But in the case of and accident they can pinpoint your location and detect if an airbag has deployed so that emergency personnel can respond accordingly.
Heartbeat Monitor - The key fob remote for the 2007 Volvo S80 will not only tell you if someone has broken into the vehicle while you were away, but a heartbeat sensor will alert you if someone is hiding inside.
Thanks Jody! We'll be looking for all these safety features in our future vehicles.