Posted on August 12, 2022 by Rick Griffith

As National Traffic Awareness Month, 2022, is now in full swing, there are a lot of choices drivers, passengers, and pedestrians can make to “get to zero traffic deaths.” Being able to recognize each of our roles is a significant factor in preventing death or even injury in these keys areas:

• Properly Functioning Vehicle Safety Systems
• Driver/Pedestrian Awareness
• Safer Traveling Speeds
• Roadway Designs

Although to have any successful results, all vehicle operators should have a strong understanding of:

• Vehicle Safety Features
• Steps to Care for Vehicle Maintenance
• Learn about Vehicle Manufacturer Recalls

Knowledge Center for Novice or Experienced Drivers

It doesn’t matter whether a driver is a novice or an experienced one; what matters is that every driver should have the confidence to know about their car’s safety and technology features. As a result, almost every vehicle manufactured in the United States has safety features designed to help drivers drive safely. 

Even some of the old in-dash gauges can still help driver awareness. Whether to monitor your vehicle speed or watch your engine temperature, newer vehicles today are equipped with universal icons you need to know.

• Forward Collision
• Braking, Tire Pressure, and Anti-rollover
• System Monitors and Communication
• Parking and Back-up Assist
• Lane and Distance Assistance

Forward Collision Icons

Among the forward collision icons that may appear or sound off are: 

ABS – Most cars today come equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that will illuminate when your vehicle is running. ABS works to restore traction to your vehicle’s tires in an emergency.

Automatic Emergency Braking – Although not designed to prevent an accident, the sensor is more of an early warning system to alert the driver of cars ahead.

Adaptive Headlights – This has nothing to do with low or high beams but, moreover, to do with your vehicle’s steering. For example, the headlights will move side to side to better illuminate the roadway on a curve or when making a 90-degree turn.

Bicycle Detection – Alerts you, the driver, of a potential collision with a bicyclist. There is currently no vehicle equipped with a rear or side sensor for bicyclist detection.

Brake Assist – This function is not designed to stop your car but, more importantly, to assist with applying more brake pressure to slow your vehicle speed.

Forward Collision Warning – Again, designed as an early warning system to let you know of a hazard so you can brake or steer clear in time.

Left Turn Crash Avoidance – Because head-on collisions are among the most severe roadway accidents, this early warning system activates sounds, illuminates dashboard icons, and applies brake pressure if the driver begins to turn.

Obstacle Detection – While this detection is limited by sonar and radar technology instead of a camera, it can warn the driver of nearby objects in the front or rear. It is important to note that weather conditions, like fog, snow, rain, and dust storms, can inhibit the effectiveness of this function.

Pedestrian Detection – The sensor can detect human movements and alert the driver to take action or will also automatically apply brake pressure to slow a vehicle’s speed to 25 miles per hour (MPH).

Traction Control – Although not designed to keep a vehicle from slipping and spinning out of control, this feature helps drivers accelerate more evenly when taking off from a stopped position or prevent them from accelerating too quickly in slippery conditions, such as in icy, snow, or rainy weather.

Curve Speed Warning – This advanced warning uses a global positioning system, or GPS, to alert a driver of a sharp turn or curve in the road ahead.

High-Speed Alert – Different technologies are used to alert drivers today of their speed. The oldest is the GPS database of speed limits. Newer technology uses cameras to read speed limit signs, and an even more advanced version, called Intelligent Speed Adaptation, or ISA, will slow a vehicle’s speed down. 

Adaptive Cruise Control – An adaptive cruise control is not so new, but it allows you to increase and slow your speed while using cruise control at the touch of a button without disengaging the cruise.

Braking, Tire Pressure, and Anti-rollover Icons

Some of these early warning systems and alerts are designed to help drivers in many ways, whether avoiding a forward collision or, in some cases, stabilizing a vehicle’s handling for the driver to respond to the possible approaching danger.

Electronic Stability Control – Although not designed to prevent a roll-over accident, this feature helps stabilize the vehicle to help the driver maneuver and maintain control of the car. 

• Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
• Temperature Warning
• Hill Descent Assist
• Hill Start Assist

System Monitors and Communication Icons

You’ll also have icons that are backlight and sound alarms that correspond with system monitors and communication alerts to keep you aware at all times behind the wheel.

• Engine Start Stop
• Drowsiness Alert

Parking and Back-up Assist Icons

Some recent advances in vehicle sensors and alarms have a great deal to do with parking and backing up functions.

• Back-up Camera
• Back-up Warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Automatic Parallel Parking
• Parking Sensors

Lane and Distance Assistance Icons

With the recent advancements in self-driving cars, manufacturers have improved lane awareness and distance alerts for passive driver safety controls.

• Lane Departure Warning
• Drowsiness Alert
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Blind Spot Warning
• Side View Camera

Where to Buy Used Cars With Safe Driver Alerts and Warnings

Many of these bells and whistles changed the face of the car manufacturing industry. But unfortunately, many drivers often wonder if these features are unobtainable because the technology is too expensive. Thankfully that is not farther from the truth.

If you’re looking for a used vehicle with safety features like these, contact the team at Car Credit at (417) 624-8500. As a Buy Here Pay Here dealership for the four states region of southwest Missouri, Car Credit has a wide selection of sedans and SUVs to choose from in inventory, with many of these safety features already built into the onboard system.

To get started, apply online today!