On behalf of Smiley & Smiley, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Friday, January 23, 2015.
When purchasing a new or used vehicle, do you do research before you make your final selection? Chances are that you do a substantial amount of research before purchasing a car or truck because a motor vehicle is a substantial purchase. Not only do you want a vehicle that meets your needs and looks nice, you likely want a vehicle that is as safe as possible within your price range.
One of the ways that American consumers judge any given vehicle model’s potential for safety is by assessing the vehicle’s star safety ratings. These ratings are compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is the federal agency most directly tasked with ensuring the safety of motorists on American roads. The safety ratings allow individuals shopping for a vehicle to assess, at a glance, how well the vehicle will prevent and how well it will hold up in the event of an accident.
A staggering number of motor vehicle accidents occur due to improper braking, inadequate braking, brake failure and other brake-related problems. Oftentimes, if motorists had braked sooner, they would have avoided injurious collisions. It is for this reason and others that the NHTSA has decided to consider automatic braking technology in its list of features which influence star safety ratings.
The next time you are shopping for a vehicle, pay special attention not only to the star ratings but also what these ratings specifically mean. Being choosy about which vehicles you drive based on their safety potential just may save your life one day.
Source: Automotive News, “NHTSA to add automatic braking to star ratings,” Jeff Plungis, Jan. 22, 2015
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