Cars have a lot of features that make them desirable. Some people, for instance, love to go zero to sixty in less than three seconds. Others love to drive around in a motor that is as smooth as silk to operate. Some even like to drive a car that is safety conscious. For most drivers, safety might not be high on the list of features that you take seriously. But, there is a percentage of car owners that understand just how important safety is when they drive.

If you are one of these car nuts, you are probably looking for a car that fits your needs to the letter. Picking a safety conscious car isn’t always a doodle because lots of cars boast the same features. But, only a select few boast the features that you need when you drive.

Here are the features you need to look out for.

Head Restraints

Let’s start off simple and work up to the more complex features. A head restraint is a great way to limit the movement of your head in a crash and reduce the risk of a neck injury. After all, it doesn’t take much to suffer from whiplash. Every car has head restraints because it is a legal obligation. However, they don’t have to install the safest head restraints. The safest ones are the ones that adjust automatically when you reposition your seat. They are dynamic restraints, and they are top of the range. They are top of the range because logic dictates that the headrest will move when the seat moves. If the seat moves in a crash, the head should move with it, protecting your neck.

Seat Belts

Again, not exactly state of the art. And again, not all seats belts are the same. The newer ones have safety features that the old ones don’t have. These prevent you from exiting the car or smashing your head in a collision. The things to look out for are adjustable upper belts, seat belt pretensioners, and energy management features. In basic terms, the adjustable upper belts allow a person to change the belt to their size. That, in theory, should encourage them to wear their seat belt. Pretensioners snap back the slack of the belt in the case of a crash, which should push you back into your seat. And, energy management features distribute the energy of a crash around your body.

Tyres

Tyres produce friction with the road and keep the car from skidding off into a ditch. As such, the tyres need to be in a good condition. That means that they shouldn’t have any cuts or deep scratches in their walls as this can compromise their performance. When you compromise their performance, you compromise their safety. The best way to make sure they don’t break down is to buy them from reputable buyers like Event Tyres. Also, you need to fit the tyre with the season. Conventional tyres are brilliant during the spring and summer because the weather is warm. But, they are not good for the winter. Harsh weather conditions like snow need winter tyres with thicker treads and more grip.

Airbags

Airbags are pretty similar all across the board. In fact, there isn’t much a manufacturer can do other than fit an airbag. One safety feature you do need to look out for is an off switch. Although they do save lives, they can also take lives. Because of their size, small children and old people can suffocate if they get trapped. If you are travelling with either, you need to turn off the passenger side airbag to make sure this doesn’t happen. If you can’t do it, you shouldn’t choose that car. It is that simple.

ABS

ABS stands for anti lock braking system, and it stops the wheels from locking when you slam on the brakes. When the wheels lock, it makes it harder to control the car because it affects the steering. With it, you should be able to steer clear of any trouble when you brake hard. With ABS, you are looking for features such as four-wheel ABS and brake assist. As the name suggests, four-wheel ABS controls all four wheels. Braking assist detects the force of braking and boosts the power as needed. It’s important to note that ABS won’t prevent every collision because it is not infallible. As such, you need to learn how to use it to make the most of this feature.

Traction Control

Traction control is another great way to prevent the car from slipping and sliding off the road. When you apply excess power, the wheels tend to slip as the power is too much for them to control. Thanks to the traction control element, the wheels stay steady even when you are driving fast. Again, this doesn’t mean that you can drive as quickly as possible and not crash. What it does mean is that you have one more feature that could prevent you from crashing. Traction isn’t in every car, and you might have to pay more for it as a result.

Weight

Sometimes, you can get lost in all of the technology and think that you need advanced tech to stay safe. Although it does help, some of the best safety measures are the simplest. Take the weight of the car as an example. Studies show that heavier cars provide more protection I a crash than lighter cars. The great thing about this feature is that it doesn’t cost more to obtain. All you have to do is pick a car that is heavy by taking a look at the specifications. Then, you know you have a better chance of avoiding injury if you do have an accident.

For all of you safety conscious drivers reading this, these are the features to consider. There are more, but these are the most important ones.