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As a dad the last thing you want to imagine is your little girl growing up; unfortunately, this isn’t something we can stop or slow down. And as they are studying for their permit EVtest and begging you to take them out to practice driving, the reality that they will soon be out on the road is terrifying.
Before you know it, they are asking to borrow your car to go meet their friends. Let’s face it, most parents aren’t ready for this, but there are some things that you can do to continue protecting them when you aren’t around.
When you’re looking at cars to buy for your teen, there are some important features that you’ll want to take into consideration when it comes to safety and savings. There are so many cars that have great technology, but some features can be distracting while others you’ll find beneficial. While these features won’t stop you from worrying every time your teen gets on the road, they will give you some peace of mind.
Choosing high-tech options that put safety first for your teens have never been more accessible. We’re going beyond the airbags and anti-lock brakes. We’re talking muted audio until seatbelts are fastened, visual warnings that they are driving too fast, and other features that will prove to be beneficial to ease your mind and protect your teenage driver.
Stop Them Before Impact with Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) goes by other names such as Smart Brake Support, Collision Mitigation Braking, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Active Brake Assist. The sensors will automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision or reduce its severity. We fear texting while driving and hitting someone from behind. This feature will cause their car to stop abruptly, and if there isn’t enough time to stop all the way, it will definitely reduce their speed to prevent a severe crash. Tesla and Volvo include this feature in all of their new cars, but other manufacturers are beginning to add this feature.
360 Degree View with Blind-Spot Monitoring
This is an especially important feature for your teenager and one that should be equipped in every single car because even experienced drivers can benefit from it. You’ll get a notification that there is a car in your blind spot. This sensor will let you know when a car is too close and provide you with a warning – a series of beeps or a visual indicator in the rearview and side mirrors letting you know there is a car close.
Stay in Your Lane With Lane-Keeping System
This is similar to the blind-spot indicator but with a slight difference. Lane-keeping will detect when your car is drifting, and it will take control over the steering and put it back in the lane. Texting and driving, talking on the phone, or being distracted by friends in the car cause drivers to swerve out of their lane and prevent collisions that often happen when a car is in the other lane.
Rear Cross-Traffic Warning
This feature is part of the backup camera but takes it one step further by combining blind-spot detection technology with it. While you’re backing up, if anything is coming close to your car, whether it’s a car or a person, it will provide you with a warning that something is behind the car.
We understand the distraction that our teenagers are facing today, and their lack of experience leaves us, parents, fearful. Since they were little, you’ve watched them grow as you taught them and protected them, and now they are preparing to go out on their own. But this doesn’t mean you cannot continue to protect them.
These features are, without question, beneficial for any new driver. And you shouldn’t have any trouble finding cars that will fit the bill, even if you’re considering an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle. EV’s are just as safe as conventional cars but have some additional benefits, such as tax breaks, have environmental benefits, are less likely to roll over, and you won’t have to give them gas money every other day. There are plenty of places that they can charge their car, and they are easy to find with an EV charging stations app.
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