How truly important is vehicle safety?
Simply put, NHTSA claims that traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for people ages 3 to 33. There are a number of causes for these incidents, but it clearly demonstrates that choosing the safest vehicle possible is an excellent idea, and that means focusing on standard and available safety equipment, as well as crash test results.
Are the vehicles on this list the safest cars on the road?
The ten vehicles listed here are among the safest vehicles with base prices of $30,000 or less. In developing this list, we did not consider two-passenger vehicles or those with sticker prices over $30,000. Also, vehicles that had not been thoroughly tested by NHTSA and IIHS, while possibly very safe, were not included for consideration. Finally, since curb weight was a deciding factor, the slightly heavier Toyota Corolla made it onto the list rather than the highly-ranked, yet lighter Honda Civic.
What can I do to make sure my current vehicle is safe?
There are some very basic things you can do to make your vehicle as safe as possible. These include checking your tires for excessive wear and cracking – if you see either, have the tires replaced. Have your car serviced at regular intervals to prevent breakdowns due to broken belts or mechanical failures. Take a few seconds to make sure all of your lights are working, as well as your horn. And often overlooked are the wipers – clean windows with effective wipers are never appreciated until you need them. Finally, regardless of what you drive, operate your vehicle in a responsible manner.
Photos courtesy of the Manufacturers
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