What Safety Features Are Most Crucial For Your Teen Driver's Vehicle?
If you're the nervous parent of a new learner's permit holder, you may be wondering what you can do (other than driving lessons) to ensure your teen's safety behind the wheel. Fortunately, advances in technology have made it easier than ever for you not only to ensure your teen's car has the most state-of-the-art safety options, but even to observe what your teen is doing (and how he or she is driving) while you're not in the vehicle. Read on to learn more about which new safety features you may want to prioritize when it comes to selecting your teen driver's car.
Vehicle Deceleration Warnings
Many of today's new (and newer) vehicles include features that sense and warn about the movement of surrounding vehicles – a perfect option for teen drivers who may not yet be used to multitasking behind the wheel, as well as tailgaters who tend to follow too closely to avoid a collision when the first vehicle makes a sudden stop. Vehicle deceleration warnings will sound the signal (and, in some vehicles, even apply the brakes) whenever the vehicle being followed loses speed and comes too close to your teen's front bumper.
Because teen drivers can be expensive to insure, and because rear-ending accidents are almost always deemed the "rear" driver's fault, having a vehicle with these deceleration warnings can often be a cost-effective decision when it comes to maintaining a spotless driving record and affordable insurance coverage.
Lane Change Sensors
These sensors, often placed on a vehicle's taillights and side mirrors, will sound a loud alert whenever the vehicle begins moving into a lane or spot occupied by another vehicle or object. The most sophisticated sensors can even track other vehicles from a further distance, giving the driver enough warning to return to his or her original lane if another vehicle attempts to enter this lane at the same time.
This is an ideal feature for those who are driving relatively large vehicles (like trucks, vans, and SUVs), many of which have large blind spots that make changing lanes or merging into heavy traffic difficult. While it's important to teach your teen to always physically crane his or her neck to check blind spots before changing lanes, these sensors can serve an equally important backup function in the event your teen forgets these instructions or isn't able to fully see all parts of the road while driving.
Contact an accessories dealer, like VTR Corp, for more help.