Recall, Rollover and Safety Info by TCC Team (11/5/2001)
More TCC Weekly Tips

When it comes to choosing a new vehicle, you can never be too safe. Approximately 42,000 Americans die in car crashes each year. Fortunately, the fatality rate (measured by deaths per 100 million miles driven) has dropped by 50 percent since 1980, thanks to increased seatbelt use and improvements in automotive safety technology.

Today's passenger vehicles are safer than ever before, which makes finding a safe vehicle to fit your needs even easier, too. Vehicle safety features fall into two broad categories: occupant protection and crash avoidance.  Protecting occupants is a top priority, but preventing accidents from happening in the first place is the ultimate goal.

Next time you go shopping for a new vehicle, look for the 10 safety features described below. Each one could save your life or the life of someone you love. Some are standard equipment on all cars; others are optional on only a few models.

Child safety

"For parents, the top priority when buying a vehicle should be ensuring that each child passenger can fit safely in the car with the appropriate safety equipment," says Tim Hurd, spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To narrow down your vehicle choices, first determine the number, sizes and ages of the children you'll be carrying. Then take this checklist with you when you go shopping:

·         Is there enough room in the back seat to install a child seat correctly? If the vehicle has a bench or bucket seat design, will it interfere with child seat installation?

·         Are built-in child seats available? These eliminate problems with installation and seat compatibility, and thus provide the greatest security.

·         Are there head restraints in all seating positions?

·         Is the vehicle equipped with the new universal child safety seat system - LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)? The LATCH system simplifies child safety seat installation and enhances safety, because the child seat is "clicked" into the permanent anchorage points and does not rely on the vehicle's safety belts. LATCH is not required on all new passenger vehicles until Sept. 1, 2002, but it is available on many vehicles. (Some manufacturers can provide retrofit anchorage kits.)

·         Is the vehicle equipped with safety door locks and window override controls?

·         Does the vehicle have an interior trunk release to prevent children from becoming trapped in the trunk?

If the vehicle has rear airbags, call and ask the manufacturer to assure you a child is safe in the airbag-equipped seat. If you can't get the manufacturer's assurance, have the rear airbags deactivated.

For a complete description of kid-safe vehicle features, and to learn which new-car models offer them, check out "Buying a Safer Car for Child Passengers 2001." The booklet is free, and available via the Internet fromwww.nhtsa.dot.gov.