How Safe Is Your Old Car? A Crash Course In Car Safety Upgrades You Need

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If you buy any new car now, it is full to the brim with safety features. But it’s hard to imagine that 20 years ago, most cars didn’t have half of what we’ve got now. Every car is fitted with anti-lock braking, cruise control, and, of course, airbags! It seems that most of the older cars were only fitted with a handful of safety features, but mainly, it was the seatbelts that were touted as the biggest safety feature! The dilemma for most modern car buyers, when it boils down to buying an older model, is that the safety is compromised. And even if you have concerns about your own car, but don’t have the relevant safety features you think it needs, what can you upgrade to your car to make it safer?

Reversing Camera

This is definitely one that’s not just for luxury vehicles anymore. Rearview cameras are in many modern cars. What is this? Well, it’s in the name! When you are reversing the car, there is a display monitor on your rearview mirror or your dashboard that shows you how far you can go back without bumping into another vehicle. Newer versions of cameras include distance readings and lines to give you a better indication of how far away the other car is. It’s a fantastic addition if you’ve got a large vehicle, such as an SUV. And now, as there are more cars on the road, the pressure to parallel park into a space is one we’ve all felt unless we have perfected this maneuver. But there are various types of reversing cameras you can purchase online, and it’s a perfect addition if you live in a built-up area, where people think nothing of stepping out in front, or behind your car while parking up!

Blind-spot Warning System

Blind spots are the bane of every driver’s life. For most people, checking their blind spot means physically turning your head around and making a cursory glance. However, this isn’t enough in some circumstances. Doing this in a dark area, or if there is glare from a wet road, can make the most basic of lane changes very dangerous. Blind spot detection works by using senses that will automatically flash a light or make a warning sound when there is a car in your blind spot. This gives you a much better idea of everything in your vicinity, meaning you can focus directly on the road in front of you. Lane changing is very dangerous, especially in rush hour traffic where one person is looking to get home much quicker than everyone else, and doesn’t care about the rules of the road. Blind spot warning systems are commonplace in most car accessory stores and electronic outlets, and, luckily, they are very easy to install!

Accessibility Features

Mobility aids are essential, especially for those drivers and passengers who suffer from a disability. Many cars have the features to help disabled people already, such as the SUV wheelchair conversion, but there are adaptations to help drivers. For example, if you struggle using the pedals, you could use hand controls, such as a push/pull device. But if you only have partial mobility, such as in one of your feet, some modifications can be made to the pedals, such as a floor mounted accelerator, or a twin flip accelerator, where a second pedal is attached to the left side of the brake pedal. This allows you to use your left foot to accelerate. Another handy addition for those who have difficulties in driving are remote control devices to operate the standard car controls, like the windscreen wipers, headlights, and indicators. In addition to these, there are infinite modifications that can help disabled passengers, such as swivel seats, to make getting in and out of the car easier, as well as a hoist, which physically lifts you into the car. There are also adaptations like transfer plates, which is fitted to the side of the car, helping someone who’s in a wheelchair get from the chair to the car seat with ease.

Forward Collision Warning

This is something that is easily installed into a car and comes with lane departure warning capabilities. The Mobileye system has this market covered, and provides a warning when a driver is too close to the car in front. The system you can purchase from most electronic stores consists of a radar unit that you install behind the front bumper, and a camera installed behind the rear view mirror, this reads the lane markings. If you are driving too close to the car in front, a display on the dashboard signals a color change, from green, to amber, to red. A very handy addition to this system, it can also detect obstacles like bicycles up to 460 feet ahead. It’s a very handy addition to old cars with modern drivers. The temptation for people on bicycles to weave in and out of traffic, in all weathers, can put a lot of stress on a driver. And in fact, the volume of the system is cancelled it speeds below 15 miles per hour so it can reduce rising blood pressure in inner city traffic!

So, can you upgrade your car to make it safer? In essence, you can, but the dominant features to add are mainly technical ones. If you really want a car with all the mod cons, it makes far more sense for your wallet to invest in a brand new vehicle. For those who can’t bear to be taken away from their classic car, they will have to invest in upgrading the vehicle. Safety is something that can’t be ignored on the modern roads, and as traffic, and cars, increase in huge amounts, it’s more essential to get a car that has as many safety features as possible. Most cars come equipped with the basic style, including those that have been mentioned, but if you are someone who cannot bear to be taken away from your classic car, it’s definitely worth looking at these little upgrades to make.