10 Car Safety Features No Vehicle Should Be Without

We each want a car that fits our legs and lifestyle perfectly, but more than anything else, we want a car that will keep us and our loved ones safe on the road.

Cars are being made safer than ever

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With the advancements in technology, cameras, and connectivity, our cars are safer than ever before. From automatic braking to smart cruise control and high beams, here are 16 car safety features you will want to look for when shopping for a new vehicle. Of course, any car is only as safe as its driver.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

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Forward-collision warnings are nice, and certainly are better than nothing at all to help us prevent a crash, but nothing beats automatic emergency braking when it comes to car safety features no vehicle should be without. Per Consumer Reports, in cars with AEB, “brakes are automatically applied to prevent a collision or reduce collision speed when the system detects an imminent collision with a vehicle directly in front.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity

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Switching songs, starting a new podcast, or fumbling with your phone’s GPS while driving could easily be avoided if every car offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It’s the favorite car safety feature of TechSavvyMama Leticia Barr, because “connecting a phone to these platforms lets drivers get directions, make calls, listen to favorite music, and even send and receive messages through your vehicle’s built-in display while allowing them to keep their eyes on the road and off our phones.” While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available on all new GM models (and standard on most) and is standard on Range Rover models, save for the Discovery Sport, according to Barr, “Toyota will be adding Android Auto to more of its 2020 models, including the Rav4 Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid.”

Lane assist

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It’s not quite self-driving, but lane assist technology found in premium Kia Telluride trims, for example, is a car safety feature all vehicles should have because it literally keeps you from veering into another lane. This is especially crucial to keep drivers safe late at night, when tired eyes get heavy and weary minds often drift, causing cars to do the same. Lane assist technology gently bounces cars back into their lane unless a turn signal is on to indicate the desire to switch lanes. It is properly brilliant and could save more lives if every car had this safety feature standard. Switching lanes without using your turn signal is one of the rude driving habits you should stop ASAP.

Quality tires

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Tire tread is essential to staying safe on the road. A quality set of tires is a car safety feature no vehicle should be without because tires are your point of contact with the road surface and therefore are every bit as critical as what’s under the hood, on the inside, and the safety features on the dashboard. Find out if your tires pass this crucial one-second test.

Panoramic camera rearview mirror

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Kristen of Cool Mom Picks often finds her family car full of kids as well as full of all the stuff her four kids have piled up in the backseat. That makes visibility difficult. That’s why she believes a panoramic HD camera rearview mirror is a car safety feature no vehicle should be without, like the “camera mode Chevy built into the rearview that displays a clear panoramic view from the back of the car straight on the mirror itself, to give you a better picture of what’s going on around you.”

2020 Chevrolet’s Traverse Buckle to Drive

COURTESY CHEVROLET

The Buckle to Drive car safety feature standard in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse literally makes it impossible to start driving until the driver, along with every passenger, has buckled their seat belt. This is so simple but so smart, and it is a car safety feature no vehicle should be without. Additionally, the radio is disabled until those belt buckles are clicked too—no music and no driving until everyone is safe and secure inside the 2020 Chevy Traverse. (You can disable the feature if need be.)

Snow tires

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According to Erik Craddock, a technician with Firestone Complete Auto Care who has been awarded the American Society of Engineers Master Tech status in 2018, drivers “in areas with persistent snowy and icy winter weather should consider making the switch from all-season tires to winter tires.” Snow tires are an essential car safety feature because “cold temperatures make all-season tire rubber less flexible, reducing tire grip and your ability to control the vehicle on slick roadways.

Smart high beams

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Being blasted by an oncoming car’s high beams puts you in danger because for that brief moment, your sight is severely impaired. That’s why smart, self-adjusting high beams are a car safety feature no vehicle should be without but many still are, despite this technology being around for at least five years now, per this Cnet article on smart high beams. This piece of auto tech automatically transitions your lights from high beams to regular strength headlights when a car is detected up ahead, keeping everyone safer on the road. 

Side-curtain airbags

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“While not required by regulation,” says State Farm, “these potentially life-saving airbags have become standard on many new cars in recent years.” Side airbags not only inflate faster than frontal airbags, they usually cover most or all the window space, which will help prevent ejections and neck injuries and keep any tree limbs and metal poles on the outside in the event of a crash. 

10 Items You Should Always Keep in Your Car

From basic to high-tech, these tools will help keep you safe on the road.

Multi-device charger

VIA AMAZON.COM

The best-selling Maxboot charger can be used to juice up your phone, iPad, camera, and other electronic devices while you’re in the car. It features two USB ports and is designed to protect against overcharging and overheating. Most importantly, with a charged phone, you’ll be able to call for help in case of an emergency.

Car jump starter

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It’s no fun when you’re in the middle of nowhere on a cold day and try to turn your car on, only to discover that your battery’s dead. Suaoki to the rescue! This portable device enables you to jump-start your car without the hassle of jumper cables. It also features a USB port so you can charge your phone. And in a pinch, it can also act as a flashlight. 

Tire traction mats

VIA AMAZON.COM

Stuck in the snow? You’ll be glad that you have one of these tire traction mats in the car. Much more convenient than chains, both sides of these mats feature cleat-like spikes that grip both your tire and the snow to give you traction. And once you’re out of the snow, they fold up for easy storage.

Gas container

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An unexpected storm could leave you deadlocked in traffic, far from civilization. Should you run out of fuel, having a gas container on hand will help you get to the nearest service station and back to your vehicle. This two-gallon, no-spill version is an Amazon pick. 

Windshield wiper fluid

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Between salt in the colder months and pollen in the warmer months, plus everyday dust and grime, you probably go through plenty of windshield wiper fluid. What you don’t want is to be caught without it, so keep an extra gallon in your vehicle. This Prestone wiper fluid works year-round.

AAA Winter Readiness Kit

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This handy kit for severe winter weather contains all you might need should you get stranded in your vehicle during the cold weather: a folding shovel, ice scraper, blanket, fire starter, and more. Not looking to buy a whole kit? Make sure to add the components you want to your trunk.

Blind spot mirrors

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Whether you’re on a busy highway or driving through a school zone, it’s always good to check your blind spots. These tiny, inexpensive mirrors make it easy. Self-adhesive, with the ability to rotate 360 degrees, you can attach them to your mirrors for even greater safety on the road.

Connected car adapter

VIA AMAZON.COM

Have you ever wished for a co-pilot when you’re driving alone? This smart driving assistant may be just what you need. By connecting with your vehicle’s computer, the Automatic keeps tabs on your car’s health as you drive and provides solutions. It also alerts 911 of your whereabouts in case of an emergency.

Flexible flashlight

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This lightweight flashlight has a flexible neck that allows you to twist and wrap it. With six ultra-bright lights, it’s also handy when you need to peek under the hood on the side of the road on a dark night.

Spare tire

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A spare tire in the trunk used to be a standard feature. But nearly a third of car manufacturers no longer include spares with new cars. So before you head out, make sure you get one that’s right for your car from the manufacturer in case of a flat.

Here’s Why Car Windows Have Those Little Black Dots

No, they're not just for decoration.

You probably haven’t given much thought to the pattern of little black dots on the edges of car and bus windows. Sure, they look cool, but do they do anything?

Those black dots on windshields and windows and the black rims that surround them do have a reason for being there (other than decoration). It has to do with how car windows are made—from the 1950s and ’60s onward, car manufacturers started to use an adhesive to hold car windows in place, rather than metal trim. Want to feel nostalgic?

This adhesive got the job done, but it wasn’t very aesthetically pleasing. Enter the black rims that you see around car windows, called “frits.” The frits (and the dots that border them) are made from ceramic paint. The frits are there to hide the rather icky-looking, but very important, adhesive from view. Also, since these painted rims are baked—yes, baked—into the window, they are all but indestructible. They hold the glue in place, which in turn holds the windows in place. 

As for the dots, they are there to make an aesthetically pleasing transition from the thick black lines to the transparency of the window. The dots aren’t randomly placed; they are positioned in what’s known as a “halftone pattern,” getting smaller and farther apart as the black recedes. This pattern is less jarring to the eye than opaque black paint juxtaposed with transparent glass. However, even the dots aren’t just there for decoration. Their other purpose, besides the visual effect, is to provide temperature control. To get the glass of windows and windshields to be bent the way it is, the glass is heated up. The black-painted glass heats up faster than the rest of the window. The dots are there to distribute the heat a little more evenly, which prevents the windshield from warping in the heat.