Car Insurance

One of the most important considerations you should never overlook when buying a new or used vehicle is its safety features. Safety has become more important to everyone in recent years; let’s face it we spend a lot of time in our cars and with our families so car safety should outrank any cosmetic preferences. Now there are very specific government and auto industry standards to keep you and your family safe so let’s take a look at what to look for.

One of the best car safety indicators of overall safety is the government crash test rating. All new vehicles will have these ratings readily available and it is a great place to begin understanding what you new car safety rating is. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA which you can find at nhtsa.dot.gov is your first stop. The NHTSA uses two methods of crash testing in determining the safety of the vehicle, full frontal impact and side impact. The NHTSA uses a five star rating scale, the higher the number of stars the safer the vehicle is, the lower the number of stars the more dangerous the vehicle. You can find an outline of these car safety ratings and grades at safercars.gov.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is another great resource to help with learning about your car safety rating as well. The IIHS is a research group which conducts crash tests as well but more for the insurance industry. The one important difference about their frontal crash testing is that they use a more realistic offset testing method. Instead of crashing head on, which is extremely rare in frontal accidents, the crash test runs the vehicle into a deformable barrier meant to simulate another vehicle moving at 40 M.P.H. and the barrier only covering the portion of the vehicle in front of the driver. Most head on accidents are usually offset somewhat which usually results in worse damage due to torque and structural weakness. The IISH car safety tests cover this and help us understand the reality of a true head on collision. The IISH scores or ratings in their tests are rated by Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor.

Now that you have a better idea of what your car safety rating is, you will also want to know what type of air bag system the vehicle has. All new vehicles are only mandated by law to have dual front airbags but many manufacturers realizing the important of safety have begun to offer side and rear airbags as well which is even more important in multi passenger vehicles like vans and SUVs. The side curtain airbags that drop down from the headliner offer greater head protection from the side and are highly recommended. Some vehicles now even have weight sensors as well that disable the airbag if a person below a certain weight is sitting there. This improvement came about from the first airbags that injured shorter people in the front seat due to headshots and airbag release pressure. You will start to see these improved safety sensors more and more from new vehicles.

Another very important consideration is the rollover rate of the vehicle as well. Vehicles with a higher profile are more likely to turn over. SUVs are up to three times more likely to roll over than passenger vehicles. The majority of all SUV fatalities have been due to rollover. Most SUVs come with options of 4 Wheel Drive or All Wheel Drive giving owners a false sense of security. Drivers of these vehicles think that because they have these options are invincible and push the envelope then expect the vehicle to perform whatever situations drivers put them in. Unfortunately, although they might have better traction in adverse weather and road conditions, these vehicles have more of a possibility of tipping when sharp cornering is attempted.

Antilock brakes have been around awhile and are a proven safety device, which is why insurance companies give you a discount if your vehicle has them; we highly recommended that you buy a vehicle with ABS. Although many who use ABS the first time hate the feeling of not stopping like they used to, ABS does prevent the wheels from locking up during a hard stop, something that can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. ABS almost always provides shorter stops, but, even more importantly, the system helps keep the vehicle straight and allows the driver to maneuver during a panic stop.

Obviously child safety is what most of us really care about first off and for good reason. If you do have infants always make sure you look for a new technology called LATCH which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This universal system was designed to make it easier and safer to attach car seats due to the fact that many car seats are incompatible with the vehicle’s safety belts. You’ll also find more and more automobile manufacturers are adding build in car seats to ensure even more safety for our children which you might see this prominently in Mini Vans right now.

One more thing I’d like to touch on is the power features in a car. You should be sure that if the vehicle has power windows and door locks, which is basically a standard feature on most models now, it also has disabling locks that you can control to keep children from accidentally opening doors and windows and creating unwanted chances for injury.

As you can see there are many issues when discussing new car safety and these are just a few of the main safety features to look for. There are many other Consumer Reports and car safety reviews that provide even more information and provide good source for comprehensive car safety information.

Although some car safety seats are considered safer than others it’s a good point to note that all car safety seats must pass the same federal crash tests before being approved for sale in the U.S.

There are many car safety seats on the market with manufacturers adding little extra features in order to try and make their car safety seats better than their competitors but the one main factor that consumers need to be aware of is that if a car safety seat is not fitted correctly and in accordance with manufacturers instructions the car seat’s safety is impaired.

When looking for a car safety seat do not make your decision based on price and price alone. Higher priced car safety seats may have added features but such features won’t necessarily make the car safety seat safer or easier to use.

If a car safety seat doesn’t fit your car well don’t use it and never resort to car safety seat accessories to try and make a safety seat fit your car. Manufacturers provide everything you need to correctly fit the car safety seat you are buying, if you need accessories the likelihood is that you have either fitted the seat incorrectly or that the car seat is not suitable for your car.

Ten Car Safety Seat Tips:

1. All car safety seats have weight limits which must be adhered to. Failure to follow weight / size limits can put your baby / child at risk.

2. Always use a rear facing car safety seat for infants under 1 year of age.

3. Never place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a car that has a passenger air bag.

4. With each new car safety seat read the manufacturers instructions carefully to ensure that the safety seat is correctly fitted at all times.

5. Always make sure your infants car safety seat is fitted securely.

6. Always double check that your baby is strapped into their car safety seat correctly.

7. Never place blankets under your baby before fastening the car safety seat straps. Blankets or similar items could become dislodged with the end result being that your baby is no longer strapped in tightly.

8. Avoid second hand car safety seats unless you know the person you are buying it from, are sure it hasn’t been dropped or anything else has happened which might have weakened the seat and it still comes with manufacturer’s instructions.

9. Avoid fitting car safety seats next to side air bags. Always follow the car safety seat fitting instructions as provided by your car’s manufacturer.

10. If using the same car safety seat for your second or subsequent child check the manufacturers guidelines. Some manufacturers don’t recommend that you use their car safety seats beyond 5-6 years from the date of manufacture.

Britax produces a wide range of car safety seats, has been in the industry for over 30 years and is an innovator and leader in the car safety seat market place.

If you are looking for your baby’s first car safety seat and want rear facing then the Britax Companion offers you everything you need. This rear facing baby car safety seat has a 5 point harness, is suitable for babies from 4 to 22 pounds and has a height limit of 30”. When the Britax Companion first entered the market its side impact protection was revolutionary and since then the design of this car safety seat has only got better. The anti-rebound bar significantly reduces movement in the event of an accident, you can purchase extra bases for multi-car installation and the car safety seat is compatible with the new Britax Previes and Britax Forerunner strollers for a complete travel system.

In you are looking for a convertible car safety seat then the Britax Roundabout ticks all the boxes and is about the best on the market. The Britax Roundabout car safety seat is easy to install, safe but stylish and really comfortable for your baby. As with all Britax car safety seats the Roundabout comes with a five point harness. It is forward facing with a weight limit of 33 pounds, a height limit of 40”, comes in seven different patterns and the fabric cover is machine washable. It has the new LATCH system and has EPS impact foam around the baby’s head and torso.

If you want a convertible car safety seat that has a higher weight limit have a look at the Britax Marathon. This car safety seat boasts all the same features as the Britax Roundabout but has a higher weight maximum (forward facing up to 65 pounds) and is suitable for babies up to 49”. The Marathon will still fit in most cars but may prove too large to install rear facing in some smaller vehicles.

As with all Britax car safety seats the Britax Decathlon is built with safety and comfort in mind. The Decathlon, among many other features, has a 3-position crotch strap, patented HUGS harness system, push button release LATCH system, removable toddler pillow and an infant positioning system for newborn babies. The Decathlon car safety seat will provide good service to your baby from 5 – 65 pounds. The Britax Decathlon is certainly one of the best car safety seats on the market and should certainly be included in your short list.

The Britax Boulavard has head and torso safety wings to help protect your child in the event of an accident. Previous negative feedback about wings making it difficult to fasten a child into a car safety seat and only offering restrictive views to a child have been taken into account. The Britax Boulavard car safety seat wings come out at an angle making strapping in easy and enabling your child to look around while still affording that added impact protection.

This is not a definitive list of the car safety seats available from Britax but provides you with a good idea of the safety and comfort levels Britax car safety seats offer. Although Britax car safety seats aren’t the cheapest on the market they are certainly high up in the safety list and are well ahead in new innovative features.

When considering price, bear in mind that your child’s car safety seat is one of the most important purchases you will ever make. Paying top prices isn’t always necessary but don’t skimp on safety features and, if you want to save money, then think about length of use rather than cheaper initial cost by going for a convertible car safety seat with a higher upper weight and height limit.

Being one of the simplest means of communications, mobile phones have become an inevitable part of our busy lifestyle. Whether you are in and out of the office – mobile phones keep you stay in touch with the people and the world. Those who drive cars also use mobile phones. But talking on a phone while driving could be dangerous and fatal. That’s the reason why many leading mobile companies like Sony Ericsson, Nokia, etc., offer mobile phone car kits – these are Bluetooth devices that allow you to talk without using a wire.

These hands free devices are easy alternatives for those who often use mobile phones for communications. Mobile phone car kits minimizes the chance of accidents and you can talk fearlessly with your friends and family while driving the car. You need not to hold the phone in your hand while talking on the go. These hands free devices allow you to talk wirelessly.

Mobile phone car kits come in different forms and comes packed with lots of advantages. For these tools, you need to install them inside the car. While turning on the ignition, the mobile phone car kit automatically gets connected. Receive the call with a simple press of the button and keep talking on the move. Its a very easy, convenient and safety means of communication.

Often called as Bluetooth car kits, these tools have been designed for wireless communications. These tools are compatible only with Bluetooth supporting mobile devices. Leading companies like Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Parrot have released some mobile phone car kit models such as Nokia HCK-03 6310 CAR KIT, Sony Ericsson Bluetooth CAR KIT HCA60, Parrot CK3200 LS COLOUR Bluetooth CAR KIT, etc.

Bluetooth car kits not only connect you to the people, you can also listen to your favourite music tracks on the move. Other features enable you to view phone number and contact name. Install any of the models of mobile phone car kit and talk wirelessly while driving.

Most parents know that car seats are the safest way for their child to travel and most parents use them. The problem is that of these, in fact about 80%, use their car seat improperly and they don’t even know it. The easiest mistake to correct is to make sure that your child is in the right car seat for their age and they are facing in the right direction.

Other common mistakes are that the harness straps are too loose or in the wrong position or the harness chest clip is in the wrong position. A big mistake is placing the infant seat in front of the airbag. Some parents are not locking the seat belt correctly and not using the locking clip for seat belts that do not lock automatically. Some are not positioning the seat correctly.

Make sure your infant is in the right seat for their age. Babies that are less than a year old and less than twenty pounds must be in a rear facing car seat. Many babies will reach twenty pounds before their first birthday, they still must be rear facing until their first birthday. Same goes for infants who are one year old but not yet twenty pounds, they still need to be facing the rear. When your baby has reached one year old AND twenty pounds, then they can sit in a forward facing seat. They can stay in this seat until they are 40 pounds.

If your child is over forty pounds then they need to be in a belt positioning booster seat. This is the seat that they will probably stay in until they are eight years old. The harness of the booster seat needs to be used until the child is at least eighty pounds and 4 feet and 9 inches tall. By that time they can use the car’s lap/shoulder belt as long as they are positioned correctly. The lap portion needs to lie across their hip, not across their belly. The shoulder part needs to be across their shoulder, not rubbing their neck. All children of 12 and younger need to stay in the back if possible.

There are many things that parents need to double check before their child is safe in their car seat. When using the rear facing infant or rear facing convertible seat, you must make sure that the chest clip lies across the chest at armpit level, not by their belly. The harness strap needs to be snug and straight, not twisted or loose. Rear facing harness straps need to be level with your child’s shoulders or slightly below. The angle of the seat needs to be at a 45 degree level. Never place your rear facing infant seat in front of an airbag.

When facing your child forward the harness straps need to positioned at your child’s shoulders or slightly above. Parents should be using the top set of harness slots. The straps need to be snug and tight and the chest clip needs to be at mid-chest or armpit level.

Parents need to avoid car seats that have been recalled, involved in a crash and are more than four years old. Your car seat should not have any cracks, missing parts, instructions or the label showing the model number and manufacture date. Always read all the instructions before installing.