What Are The Safest Cars To Survive an Auto Accident?

What Are The Safest Cars To Survive an Auto Accident?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Despite advances in car safety, death and injury continue to rise on the nation’s highways. In the first nine months of 2017, 27,650 people died in car accidents, higher than the 27,618 who died in all of 2016. Lower gas prices and vehicles with better fuel economy are causing more cars to be on the road, which may lead to more crashes. We also have more distractions in our vehicles, from cell phones that are constantly ringing due to texts, emails and calls to DVD players that keep our kids occupied. For this reason, you want to be sure that your family is riding in the safest car possible. Here are a few things to look for when you are buying a new vehicle.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/0fNAbIFG7WY”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Safety Guidelines

The IIHS is the main authority in the United States for determining the safety of vehicles on the road. They use the following criteria to determine how safe a car is:

  • Frontal crashworthiness – cars that do well in the federal government’s 35 mph head-on test as well as the IIHS 40 mph moderate overlap test are considered safe
  • Side crashworthiness – if your car has a good rating in the IIHS side-impact test, you are 70 percent less likely to die in a side-impact crash
  • Roof strength – good IIHS roof-strength ratings will protect you better in a rollover crash than those with a poor rating
  • Head restraints – a good IIHS head restraint ratings means you are 15 percent less likely to suffer a neck injury in an accident
  • Electronic stability control – cars manufactured after 2012 have this as a standard feature and lowers the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes by around 50 percent and risk of fatal rollovers by 80 percent
  • Car weight – IIHS says that the safest cars weigh between 3,500 and 4,500 pounds. Smaller, lighter vehicles do not offer as much protection as larger vehicles

It is also important to check the NHTSA recall database periodically to be sure your vehicle does not have a recall notice you are unaware of. If you find that it does, you need to get it to a repair shop immediately.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Top Safest Vehicles

According to the IIHS, the Toyota Avalon Sedan and RAV4 Mini-SUV are in the top five safest vehicles you can buy for under $30,000. The Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Maxima Sedan and Chrysler 200 also fall under this category. Autobytel lists five vehicles for under $40,000 that their editors find safe. These include the Honda Odyssey Minivan, Hyundai Genesis Sedan, Toyota Hylander SUV, Volvo S60 and XC60. Below are the 2018 IIHS Top Safety Picks:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1838″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

Small Cars:

Midsize cars:

Large luxury cars:

Midsize SUVs:

Midsize luxury SUV:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Download the IIHS Status Report 2018″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Felmersautobody.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2Fsr5209.pdf|||”][vc_single_image image=”1840″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://elmersautobody.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sr5209.pdf”][ultimate_ctation ctaction_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Felmersautobody.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2Fsr5209.pdf|||”]Download the IIHS Status Report 2018

[/ultimate_ctation][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1839″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

Small cars:

Midsize cars:

Midsize luxury cars:

Large cars:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1839″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

Small SUVs:

Midsize SUVs:

Midsize luxury SUVs:

Minivans:

Large pickup:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At Elmer’s Auto Body, we want your family riding in the safest vehicle possible. If you’ve been involved in an accident, bring your car in today for a complete check-up to be sure it is operating safely and efficiently. You can schedule an appointment online or give us a call today. For more information on vehicle testing and ratings visit iihs.org/iihs/ratings.

 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Can Unbalanced Tires Affect Driver Safety?

Can Unbalanced Tires Affect Driver Safety?

When it comes to tires, most drivers understand that tires without tread are dangerous. They don’t grip the road as they are supposed to and, in wet conditions, can lead to skidding accidents. However, what many drivers do not know is the danger presented by unbalanced tires.

Importance of Balanced Tires

The weight of tires must be evenly distributed around the wheel in order for them to operate properly. This allows the tire to roll smoothly on the road surface. When tires are unbalanced, they bounce rather than roll which can make the ride less smooth. However, unbalanced tires do more than just create a rough ride in your vehicle.

Vibration

If you have noticed that your car seems to vibrate, it is possible your tires are not balanced. You may feel the vibration even on freshly paved or smooth roads and you may find that the car steers less easily. Passengers may complain that the car ride is uncomfortable and you may find it more difficult to control the car.

Tire Damage

Unbalanced tires can lead the tires to wear unevenly. In fact, the vibration you feel could be due to uneven tread wear. When your tread is uneven, it can be difficult to steer your car easily. Your tires will also not have the proper contact on the road which is dangerous. Uneven tread also makes your tires susceptible for blow-outs.

Other Damage

In addition to damaging your tires, if your car is unbalanced you put extra stress on your shocks, bearings as well as the wheel assembly. This means they could need to be replaced sooner or they could simply fail while you are driving your car. Because balanced tires spin without interference, there is less interference with other components in the wheel.

Fuel Economy

When your tires are unbalanced, you will notice a drop in fuel economy in your vehicle. This is because your vehicle uses more gas, especially at higher speeds, lowering your gas mileage. In addition to unbalanced tires, under-inflated tires can also lower your fuel efficiency. If you have checked your tire inflation but still notice lowered gas mileage, it is possible your tires are not balanced.

If you have noticed that your tires are wearing unevenly, that your gas mileage has dropped or that your car is riding rougher than normal, it is possible your wheels are unbalanced. Make an appointment today to have your tires balanced or fill out the easy form online to learn more.

What Every NJ Driver Ought To Know About Worn Tires

What Every NJ Driver Ought To Know About Worn Tires

Worn tires are one of the most dangerous things you can do in your vehicle and are an accident just waiting to happen. If you like to drive over the speed limit or often travel on wet, slippery roads, you could be in even more danger on bald tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 26 percent of crashes they studied involved vehicles with insufficient tread.

The Role of Tire Tread

Your tire tread is the part of the tire that grips the road when the weather is bad, such as in rain, snow or ice. They are what keep you in control of your car and prevent you from slipping off the road. If our vehicles only traveled on dry roads, there would be no need for treaded tires. In fact, race cars, like those used in NASCAR, do not have treaded tires. Unfortunately, other than a race track, roads are not always dry and there is very little chance that you will never have to drive in wet conditions.

What Are Tire Treads?

Treads are the small grooves or channels on the surface of your tires. The tread whisks water from the tire when roads are wet so that the tire connects to the road in all weather conditions. They are also important for steering the car, making sure that the vehicle travels in the direction we turn the wheels. When the tread is gone on your tires, it is critical that you replace them as soon as possible. Driving on bald tires are the cause of many accidents.

Increased Hydroplaning Risk

When a layer of water gets between your tire and the surface of the road, the tire cannot grip the road as it is designed to do. This can cause your car to spin out of control and lead to an accident. Keeping good tread on your tires allows the water to move away from the area where the tire meets the road. However, as we drive, the tread on the tires wears away, leading to grooves that are too shallow to direct water as they were designed.

Heat Buildup

As you drive, friction is created between your tires and the surface of the road. This creates heat and, the faster you drive, the more heat the tire must manage. Tread helps to cool the tire due to the air flow between the grooves of the tread. When the heat rises to unsafe levels, a blowout can occur which can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

Snow and Ice Handling

If you drive in areas with snow and ice through the winter, tires with little or no tread can be extremely dangerous. Tires also have small, thin grooves cut into the edges of the tread known as sipes that help you maintain traction on slippery roads. As tread wears down, the sipes can wear down as well and you could lose control in snowy conditions much more easily than with full-tread tires.

Air Pressure

When your tires have less tread, they can lose air pressure more quickly than tires with the proper tread depth. Although it is always good practice to check your tire pressure regularly, if your tires are bald, they may be losing air quicker than you think. If your tires are bald and underinflated, the danger increases significantly. Underinflated tires have difficulty gripping the road even if it is dry. They can also cause your car to skid during sudden stops and could reduce your gas mileage, costing you additional money in fuel.

If you suspect your tires have low tread, we can inspect them for you and identify what may be causing your tires to wear out. Fill out the form online or give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Should You Replace Your Car Seat After An Accident?

Should You Replace Your Car Seat After An Accident- (1)

If your child is at an age where they must use a car seat, the seat is probably in your vehicle the majority of the time. If you are involved in an accident, even if your child is not occupying the seat, it is possible that you will need to replace the car seat, depending on the severity of the crash. When you are involved in a vehicle crash, forces inside the car can be extreme. This means that the car seat will be affected by crash energy whether it is occupied or not.

NHTSA Recommendation Changes

In the past, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recommended replacing car seats even when it is in a vehicle that suffered a relatively minor crash. In an effort to reduce the number of children riding without restraint while parents replace one involved in a crash as well as to reduce costs to consumers and insurance companies, NHTSA revised the recommendations somewhat. The agency, using several international studies, reports that car seats continue to protect children after being involved in a minor crash even when there is visible stress in the seat. Today, NHTSA recommends that car seats be replaced following moderate to severe crashes even if the child is not occupying the seat at the time. Unless there appears to be serious damage to the seat after a minor accident, the seat does not need to be replaced.

What is Considered a Minor Crash?

It can be difficult to determine if an automobile collision is considered minor, moderate or severe. NHTSA defines a minor accident involving a car seat as one in which the vehicle can be driven away from the scene and that the door nearest the car seat was undamaged. No injuries should be reported by passengers and air bags should not have deployed. If all of these criteria are met and there is no visible damage to the car seat, you do not have to replace your car seat. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of a new seat. If your child was close to growing out of their current seat, they may cover the cost of the next level seat.

Disposing of the Old Seat

After you have replaced the car seat, you will need to dispose of the old one. Contact your local waste agency to see if they offer a car seat recycling program. If they do not, you need to make the seat unusable by anyone else. Remove all detachable parts and cut all straps from the seat. Dismantle it as much as you can before disposing of the seat. There are people who search through residential garbage looking for yard sale and thrift shop items. By dismantling the seat, you insure that a child will not be placed in danger if someone should attempt to use it after you toss it out.

Even after a minor accident, your car seat may need to be replaced in order to keep your child safe. Your local police agency can inspect the seat for you should you have any questions about its safety.