There are many things to consider when buying a new vehicle — price, style, power, etc. It’s easy to ignore the importance of safety ratings, but they’re one of the most important factors when picking out a new car. Don’t let safety ratings fall by the wayside. Read on for six crucial reasons you should always check a vehicle’s safety rating before buying a new car.
1. The Safety Rating Shows a Car’s Overall Injury Rate
The first and perhaps most important reason to check a vehicle’s safety rating before buying is to ensure you’re getting a car with an overall injury rate as close to zero as possible. And in the case of hybrid and electric vehicles, know that they score — because they don’t have any major injuries.
2. The Safety Rating Shows How Many Minor Injuries Occured
The next step is figuring out how many minor injuries occurred from any crash, which is why checking the safety rating is important. Again, ensure the overall injury rate is as close to zero as possible and that there are no major injuries.
3. The Safety Rating Shows How Many Major Injuries Occured
The third part of the safety rating is determining the number of potential deaths from one crash, which is why safety ratings are so important. It’s a good idea to check because you don’t want your car to kill people when it’s supposed to protect them. Again, look for zero significant injuries and that every single vehicle has an overall injury rate as close to zero as possible.
4. The Safety Rating Shows the Number of Pedestrians and Bicyclists Injured
It’s also helpful to check a vehicle’s safety rating to see how many pedestrians and bicyclists were injured. If you have a car with a high safety rating, you can be happy when you’re out walking or biking because you know it’s easier to avoid accidents and injuries.
5. The Safety Rating Shows How Well Vehicle Occupants Are Protected in Various Types of Collisions
The fifth step is looking at the safety rating to see how well vehicle occupants are protected in various collisions. These include frontal, side, rear, and rollover collisions. If your car has a high safety rating, you can rest assured that your passengers will be protected when a severe collision occurs.
6. The Safety Rating Shows the Familiarity of an Automobile’s Design
The last step is to look at the safety rating to see how common these crashes are—how many people are injured. Again, it’s good to know how familiar these vehicles are because this will give you more information about the vehicle’s overall safety record. These are the types of crashes that happen while you’re driving your car.
As you can see, there are many reasons to check a vehicle’s safety rating. Not only does this give you a better idea about the safety of the car, but it also can save you money in the long run. Make sure to check your next vehicle’s safety rating. Be safe and happy driving.
