If your teenager has recently gotten a license, he or she may be constantly asking you to buy a car. Of course, the final decision rests with you, and you certainly shouldn’t feel pressured into buying a car for your teenager. If you do relent and buy a car, make sure that you buy the safest car in the dealership. In particular, narrow down your choices to vehicles that have the following safety features:
Side Impact Airbags
Airbags have significantly reduced the occurrence of death and serious injuries sustained in vehicular accidents. While most cars will carry standard front airbags, look for a car that also offers side impact airbags. These will protect your teen from any “T-bone” collisions. After all, the absence of side impact airbags means only a door and window separate your teen from the other car.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Many teens like to drive fast with the music blaring. This can be very distracting and your teen may not see another car and reactively pump the brakes. Unfortunately, this can cause normal brakes to lock, making the vehicle difficult to maneuver and increases the chances of a car flipping over. A robust antilock brake system should prevent this from happening.
Rear-view Cameras
Maneuvering a car in reverse can be difficult for young drivers. You can help them out by choosing a car that has a rear-view camera installed. This feature is also useful for avoiding any accidents when leaving a parking slot or driveway.