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To get the greatest benefit of your vehicle safety features, it is essential to understand how they work and how to reduce the risk of a crash.  When researching the safety features of your vehicle, keep the following basics in mind:

Airbags: Passenger and driver-side dual airbags are now required in all vehicles sold in the United States.  Airbags are supplementary restraints, which means they must be used with safety belts for maximum effectiveness.

Head Injury Protection: This feature, which lessons the blow if your head hits the interior roof of your vehicle, has become standard in recent years. If you select an older vehicle, it may not have this safety feature.

Advanced Headrests: These systems allow the back of the seat and headrest to move down and back if the vehicle is hit from the rear, reducing the forward motion and thus decreasing the severity of head and neck injuries.

Automatic Daytime Running Lights: This feature makes it impossible to drive without headlights, making your vehicle more visible when driving, even during daylight.

Anti-lock Brake System: This feature eliminates the need to "pump the brakes" when you have to stop quickly, preventing the wheels from locking up and the vehicle from skidding. ABS pumps the brakes for the driver; the driver keeps constant pressure on the brake pedal and concentrates on steering. This allows the driver to regain control in bad weather conditions or quickly avoid a crash.

Traction Control: While ABS helps drivers maintain control while braking, traction control helps them do so while accelerating. This feature stops the spinning of a wheel due to wet roads, loose gravel, or fast acceleration by braking it, reducing the fuel or cutting spark plug ignitions, depending on the type of system, which improves traction.

Electronic Stability System: This feature coordinates the ABS, Traction Control, and the "yaw" of your vehicle (how much the vehicle rocks from side to side). The system reduces tire spinning, skidding, and traction when cornering, keeping the vehicle's tires in maximum contact with the road.