If you have a teenager who has just gotten their driver’s license, you might be bracing yourself for sleepless nights while they’re behind the wheel. However, if they’re equipped with the right features in their vehicle, you can save yourself a lot of anxiety.
You don’t need to spend top dollar to grab a vehicle with essential modern amenities. All you need to know is which features will best keep your teenage driver out of trouble. If you’re looking for a car to keep your young motorist safe, here are five features to keep your eyes peeled for.
- Proper Airbags
This one’s kind of a no brainer, but there can actually be a bit of difference in how many airbags a car has. Many cars have 6, but others can have as many as 10. You’ll want to do your research to see if your prospective vehicle is safe in as many different types of accidents as possible.
In truth, more airbags don’t always mean a safer car. But according to modern statistics, modern cars have far fewer fatal accidents than cars from 10 years ago or older. Just make sure your vehicle is up to snuff by today’s standards.
- Smartphone Integration
Whether you love them or hate them, smartphones are at the center of many young people’s lives. While some may think smartphone integration in a vehicle is a luxury feature, it’s actually a key component in keeping young drivers safe. Equipped with this feature, drivers can change their music, answer phone calls, and follow GPS navigation without taking their eyes off the road.
When even a second of taking your eyes off the road is all it can take for an accident to happen, you’ll want to limit the likelihood of these mistakes as much as possible.
- Blind Spot Monitoring
All seasoned drivers are familiar with the hassle of checking your blind spot before changing lanes. Sure, many of us have gotten used to it, but that doesn’t mean we like it. However, most young drivers won’t have this ingrained habit just yet. That’s where blind-spot monitoring can help.
Many modern vehicles now have ways to alert drivers when a car has entered their blind spot during a lane change. Or for a low-tech solution, some cars have auxiliary blind spot mirrors attached to their rearview mirrors. Either approach can help your young driver deal with these tricky situations.
- Rear View Camera
This sounds like a fancy feature on a vehicle, but it’s more standard than you might think. In fact, as of 2014, all new cars in the United States must be made with a rearview camera built-in. That’s how important they are.
Whether you’re avoiding pedestrians when backing out of a parking spot, or you’re attempting some tricky parallel parking, a rearview camera is seriously helpful. Your young driver is going to be far safer with one equipped in their vehicle.
- Ease of Use
At the end of the day, drivers are safer in a vehicle that they feel comfortable driving. If it’s confusing to find the warning lights or even use the windshield wipers, you’re flat out putting yourself at risk on the road. A car with an easy to read dashboard will not only make any driver safer, but it’ll also save them a lot of hassle in even the best situations.
Of course, finding the easiest to use car isn’t always as simple as it sounds. If you’re unsure of what to look far, don’t be afraid to ask your salesperson to point you towards a car that works well for young drivers. Even if don’t fancy yourself a car expert, the peace of mind a safe and reliable vehicle provides for your teen driver is priceless. A car can always be replaced, but your child will always be your most precious cargo.
