What Car Safety Features are Required by Law

When you are buying a new car, make sure that the safety features are properly installed in the vehicle. It should also comply with the safety standards required by law. You should also know what these features are so you know how to work your way in certain situations, especially during a possible car crash accident. 

Moreover, it's equally important to be aware of certain safety features required by law. Below is your quick guide.

Child Passenger Safety Law

The federal government created a law to reduce the risk of children from getting hurt during a car crash. In 2017, the lives of 675 children were lost at age 12 years old and younger because of not buckling up or improper use of seat belts.

Moreover, the law recommends car safety standards to ensure your children's safety while onboard a car:

●      Make sure car seats, booster seats, or seat belts are suitable for your children. This is why seat design depends on your child's age, height, and weight.

●      Use a restraint system when a child is on board of a car.

●      Place your child in the back seat, specifically in the middle of the back seat. 

●      Do not let your child sit in front of an airbag.

●      If the child is 2 years old and under, make use of a rear-facing seat.

●      If the child is 2 years old and not more than 5, you use a forward-facing car seat.

●      If the child is 5 years old and up, you should use a booster seat and check if their seat belts fit them.

●      When the booster seat does not fit your children, you can use a seat belt as a substitute.

Aggressive Driving and Speeding 

Aggressive driving reveals your character to commit moving traffic violations such as speeding or tailgating. Moreover, you jeopardize other persons or property.

Signs of aggressive driving:

●      Speeding, ignoring the required speed limit, or highway conditions. Speeding is one of the common causes of fatal motor vehicular deaths.

●      Failure to yield properly. As you fail to give in to oncoming traffic, merge aggressively into the highway, and enter the street coming from the garage.

●      Weaving a form of improper driving behavior, making frequent lane changes, ignoring traffic laws, and other motorists in the street jeopardizing your safety as well as fellow motorists. 

●      Failure to use signal devices - signifies negligence on your part, making other drivers guess which way you intend to go, like making sudden turns. Moreover, failing to do it can cause a collision with other cars, particularly at your back or the one beside you. If an accident happens, you’ll likely end up seeking the services of a car accident lawyer to defend you in a personal injury case. 

●      Tailgating happens when you are too close to the car ahead of you, and when it pulls over you suddenly step on the break, or if not collides with it. To avoid this you should observe the 2-second rule, the recommended safe distance that separates your car from a car ahead of you. 

●      Excessive horn-blowing can be a sign of aggressive driving. Horn blowing should be done rarely and should be used only when calling the attention of a distracted driver.

●      Lane blocking, you intentionally make it difficult for other cars to merge or change lanes because you block their passing lanes. 

Safety Seat Law or Child restraint Law

Safety seat law or child restraint law provides guidelines for parents to keep their children safe while onboard in a car. It requires the use of an appropriate car seat for your child that suits their age, weight, and height. The car seat, though, should be used according to the product instructions.

Cellphones and Texting 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the use of cellphones and texting is banned in some states in the US since it is considered distracted driving. Sending text messages and calling while driving can take away your attention on the road, and can lead to car accidents endangering your safety, other drivers, and road users.      

Teenage Driving

Teenage driving is a critical stage in learning the basics of driving. Teenagers are encouraged to drive with certain limitations, such as no driving at nighttime, they should not drive with passengers except accompanied by parents or instructors, not allowed to use gadgets, or under the influence of alcohol and drugs while driving. 

Winter Driving

Winter driving can lead to car crashes if you are not used to driving during the winter season. However, below are some helpful tips to avoid an accident when driving on snowy or icy road:

●      Stay alert

●      Slow down

●      Remain in control, and

●      Always keep your car in good condition

Car Donation

If you find that your vehicle does not meet these standards, donate it! When your vehicle is not longer safe, Cars2Charities will transform your vehicle into a donation for your favorite non-profit. To donate call (855) 520-2100!