A new or growing family calls for a number of changes for an already established two-adult household. From longer trips to the supermarket and variations in the regular sleep schedule to increased space and housing needs, the addition of a new child usually means that a variety of lifestyle changes for the family are on the horizon. One area where new families need to adjust rather quickly is with their method of transportation—the family car. With the addition of the first child, the sporty, sleek two-door cars are often traded for more practical forms of transportation—usually something with four doors and additional trunk or cargo space.

Our present economy presents a great opportunity for families that are considering a practical family vehicle more in keeping with their transportation needs. With new car sales declining to historic lows, automobile manufacturers are offering a variety of incentives to lure customers into their showrooms, and now may be an opportune time to see what car dealers have to offer.

No doubt you have a desire to protect your family in all aspects of life, so here are a few tips to consider when making a decision on purchasing that new or pre-owned vehicle as the new "family car." When it comes to testing car safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does much of the legwork for consumers through its various crash testing programs. The main tests NHTSA performs are the frontal crash test, side-impact crash test, and rollover test.

For frontal crash testing, crash test dummies are buckled in the driver and front passenger seats and are crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 mph. This test is equivalent to a head-on collision between two identical vehicles moving at 35-mph. Instruments measure the force of impact to each dummy's head, chest, and legs. The information gathered indicates a belted person's chances of incurring a serious injury (one that may be life-threatening and requires immediate hospitalization) in the event of a crash.

NHTSA use a one-to-five "star" rating system. The greater number of stars a vehicle receives, the lower the chance of receiving a serious injury in a crash. For frontal crash testing, the star rating is detailed as follows:

= 10% or less chance of serious injury
= 11% to 20% chance of serious injury
= 21% to 35 % chance of serious injury
= 36% to 45% chance of serious injury
= 46% or greater chance of serious injury!

NHTSA's side-impact crash testing represents an intersection-type collision with a 3,015-pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph into a standing vehicle. Crash test dummies are buckled in place in the driver and rear passenger seats. Star ratings for side-impact crash tests indicate the chance of a life-threatening chest injury for the driver, front-seat passenger, and rear-seat passenger. Head injuries are not currently included in side-impact crash ratings. Definitions of star ratings for side-impact crash tests are as follows:

= 5% or less chance of serious injury
= 6% to 10% chance of serious injury
= 11% to 20 % chance of serious injury
= 21% to 25% chance of serious injury
= 26% or greater chance of serious injury!

Since the same size barrier crashes into all of the tested vehicles, NHTSA states it is possible to compare vehicles from different weight classes when looking at side-crash test results and ratings.

According to the NHTSA, more than 10,000 people die each year in rollover crashes. While even the highest-rated vehicle can roll over, it is the fact that vehicle occupants are often unrestrained and are ejected or partially ejected from the vehicle that makes a rollover so deadly. NHTSA's rollover resistance rating is based on: (1) an at-rest laboratory measurement known as the "Static Stability Factor" (SSF) which determines how "top-heavy" a vehicle is, and (2) the results of a driving maneuver that tests whether a vehicle is vulnerable to tipping on the road in a severe maneuver. The lowest-rated (one star) vehicles are at least four times more likely to roll over than the highest-rated (five star) vehicles if they are involved in a single vehicle crash.

In addition to the various crash testing NHTSA performs, it also recommends that consumers look for and choose vehicles with additional safety features including the following:

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is offered under various trade names and is designed to assist drivers in maintaining control of their vehicles during extreme maneuvers or on slippery roads. ESC systems sense when a vehicle is starting to lose control and when this occurs, the ESC automatically applies the brake to one or more of the wheels to turn the vehicle in the appropriate direction. NHTSA estimates that ESC equipped vehicles reduce single-vehicle crashes of passenger cars by 26% and single-vehicle crashes of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) by 48%. NHTSA adds that ESC could potentially prevent 64% of passenger car rollovers and 85% of SUV rollovers in single-vehicle crashes.

Side Air Bags (SABs) provide additional protection to two main areas of the body—the head and the chest—during side-impact crashes. SABs typically deploy downward from the vehicle's roof rail. NHTSA estimates that between 700 and 1,000 lives would be saved each year if all vehicles on U.S. roads were equipped with head protection SABs.

Seat belts are designed to keep driver and passengers inside the vehicle and to help reduce the risk of you or your passengers hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield. NHTSA states that seat belts remain one of the most important safety features in your vehicle and adds that wearing a seat belt reduces your chance of being killed in a rollover by about 75%. The Federal standard requires all vehicles to have a four-to-eight second seat belt reminder for the driver. The reminder appears as a dashboard warning light that also makes a sound.

Frontal air bags have been standard safety equipment for drivers and passengers in all vehicles since 1998. They do not eliminate the need for seat belts and typically do not offer protection in rollovers, side-impact, or rear-end crashes. In the event of a crash, frontal air bags inflate to prevent occupants from hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield.

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) use a dashboard warning light to alert the driver when one or more of the vehicle's tires is significantly under inflated—a leading cause of tire failure. Tires are considered significantly under inflated if the tire pressure is 25% below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire inflation pressure.

Vehicle weight is another variable that should be taken into consideration when judging vehicle safety. NHTSA adds that all things being equal, a heavier vehicle will generally better protect you in a crash.

Each year NHTSA tests new cars, light trucks, SUVs, and vans, including those that have been redesigned or have improved safety features. The results and ratings are then published for the consumer's use in determining overall safety. The government's latest safety ratings can be found at www.safercar.gov. If you are in the market for a new car, do your research to choose the safest car available for you and your family.

Sources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—www.nhtsa.gov
United States Department of Transportation—www.safercar.gov

Articles are provided for the general interest of our readers. Gerber Life Insurance is not responsible for any content and recommends that you consult the appropriate professional with any questions or concerns you may have concerning any financial or health related issues.