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“Today’s cars are safer than those from a decade or so ago in two main ways,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center. “First, they include many more ’passive’ safety features, such as advanced airbags, that help to protect the vehicle’s occupants and mitigate injuries if a crash occurs. They also have many more ’active’ safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, that can help drivers avoid crashes entirely.”
But many Americans aren’t benefiting from these safety advances because they’re driving older cars that don’t have them. The average age of vehicles on the road has risen to 12.2 years, according to the latest available data from S&P Global Mobility, a consulting firm. And vehicles more than a decade old may not have important safety features such as backup cameras, AEB, and even electronic stability control (ESC)—all technologies that have been proved to prevent crashes and reduce injuries.
“While holding on to an older car might make the best financial sense, there are real safety benefits to buying something newer,” says Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of auto testing. “Even less expensive newer cars now come standard with life-saving safety features.”
If you’re shopping for a new or used vehicle, we’ll walk you through the safety advances that you should be aware of and highlight the popular cars that excel at crash avoidance and occupant protection. We’ll also show you how to make the car you already own as safe as it can be, and help you decide whether it’s time to trade in an older vehicle for something safer.
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