There is no more exciting time in a teenagers life than selecting their first new car or perhaps their first used car. Unfortunately parents and newly licensed teenagers have very differing opinions when it comes to selecting that perfect vehicle!
Before Shopping: Remember This First!
One out three newly licensed drivers will be involved in a collision within their first year of driving! The Center for Disease Control also states that six young drivers between the ages of 16-19 die each day from motor vehicle collision injuries. Combine those alarming statistics with the fact that more than 80% of new drivers admit to talking on the cell phone while driving and another 70% or more admit to texting while driving! The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 58% of all distracted driving collisions were caused by teenagers. Faced with all of this eye opening data it is no doubt that the parents of these young drivers consider safety the number one consideration when selecting a new or used motor vehicle. Rest assured my teenage friends there are plenty of vehicles that combine style with safety.
Safety: A Number One Priority
Every year auto manufacturers come up with new and better ways to protect vehicle occupants. Here are list of some very important safety features you should consider when selecting a new or used vehicle.
- Air Bags– Air bags were first introduced to the auto world in the 1970’s. Over 20 years later they became a standard item in all new cars. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 18,000 drivers are alive today because of air bags. Air bags in combination with seat belts provide the best overall protection for young drivers.
- Anti-Lock Brakes– Anti-Lock brakes (ABS) are active safety features in many cars since the 1990’S. This system allows the driver to maintain steering control by preventing the wheels from locking up during an episode of severe braking. ABS systems can help reduce stopping distances by up to 45%.
- Electronic Stability Control– ESC helps drivers avoid crashes by reducing the dangers of losing control or skidding as a result of over steering. ESC is activated when the driver loses control of their car. It uses computer based technology to apply the brakes and avoid a dangerous “fish tail” situation. ESC has been shown to reduce the risk of single car crashes by 25%.
Other Safety Devices to Consider:
- Collision warning system
- Blind spot warning system
- Daytime running lights
- Tire pressure monitoring
- Reverse cameras
- Curtain airbags
Make sure when you pick a vehicle to not only consider its safety features but to also consider the protection the vehicle will provide you if it is involved in a collision. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an excellent resource when selecting a vehicle for your teenage driver. They crash thousands of new cars on purpose to check for their safety and crash worthiness. After these vehicle are tested they are given a rating by IIHS. They will rate vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor based on the six different tests they administer to each car. This rating is important because it can also have a bearing on the car insurance premiums you pay each year. Bottom line is safer cars have lower premiums. Lets take a look at some of most highly rated cars selected by the Institute.
Best Safe Used Cars Low $ to High $ (Midsize)
Volkswagen Passat 2013 and higher model years
Volvo S60 2011 and newer
Subaru Legacy 2011 and newer
Honda Accord 2011 and newer
Mazda 6 2014 and newer
Toyota Prius 2015 and newer
Audi A3 2015 and newer
Acura TLX 2015 and newer
BMW 2015 and newer
Infiniti Q50 2014 and newer
(see entire list on IIHS website)
Top Safety Picks New Cars (Midsize)
2018 Honda Accord
2018 Hyundai Sonata
2018 Kia Optima
2018 Mazda 6
2018 Nissan Altima
2018 Nissan Maxima
2018 Subaru Legacy
2018 Subaru Outback
2018 Toyota Camry
Also it is important to remember the bigger and heavier the car the safer it is in a crash. Young drivers should also stay away from vehicles with higher horse power. The temptation to test the limits of the car may be too great.
For a complete list vehicles tested by the Institute go directly to their website. Check out and see how the car you may driving performed in their extensive testing!
Want to save more money on your insurance premium go to www.onlinenydefensivedriving.com and take the defensive driving course to save 10% for 3 consecutive years.
Want to learn how to drive defensively go to our Books and Products section of this website.
Good Luck and Safe Driving
The Driver Ed Coach