Paying attention to considerations such as a vehicle's crash performance rating and safety features can help ensure peace of mind. Learn about individual features as well as how each feature contributes to overall vehicle safety.

Finding Data on a Vehicle's Crash Performance

The National Crash Analysis Center collects vehicle crash test data and provides ratings on how well each vehicle protects drivers and passengers during frontal and side collisions. You can obtain crash test results by visiting The National Crash Analysis Center website or calling 703-726-8236.

Types of Safety Features

There are two basic kinds of safety features: occupant and crash avoidance.

Occupant safety features include safety belts, front and side airbags, child safety seats and head restraints. These features help reduce the risk of injuries during a crash.

Crash avoidance features include technologies such as traction control and all-wheel drive. These features may help drivers avoid an accident.

Occupant Safety Features

• Adjustable Upper Belts (safety belt component)—The adjustable upper belt permits the safety belt shoulder strap to adjust to accommodate a driver's size. This increases the comfort of the safety belt, which may lead to higher safety belt use.
• Child-seat Tethers Anchors—A child safety seat's tethers (or straps) are attached to these anchors. Since they secure the top of the safety seat to the vehicle, overall safety seat protection is increased.
• Energy Management Features (safety belt component)—This feature allows the safety belt strap to extend or "give" in a gradual and controlled manner in response to the occupant's forward momentum. This "give" reduces the risk of force-related injuries to the occupant's chest.
• Front Air Bag—A front air bag will inflate in certain frontal impacts to enhance occupant protection. Front air bags offer protection from hard interior surfaces such as the steering wheel, dashboard and windshield. However, if drivers are not properly restrained, front air bags can cause injuries when they inflate. Always wear your safety belt and secure children in the rear seat.
• Head Restraint—The cushion attached to the back of the vehicle seat, head restraints help limit head motion in the event of a rear-end collision. However, to prevent neck injury, a head restraint has to be directly behind you. The top of the head restraint should be located between the top of your ears and the top of your head.
• Integrated Safety-belt Systems (safety-belt component)—Systems that mount the entire safety belt system directly to the seat, rather than to the floor or pillar. These systems allow the safety belt to move with you when you move the seat and also offer additional comfort.
• Pretensioner (safety-belt component)—A pretensioner immediately tightens the safety belt during a crash and restrains the occupant more securely in the seat.
• Side Air Bag—A side air bag will inflate in certain side-impacts to enhance occupant protection. This airbag comes in two types: seat-mounted and door mounted. Side air bags protect your chest and may also protect your head. However, side air bags can hurt children and small adults if they aren't seated properly. Always wear your safety belt and secure children in the rear seat.

Crash Avoidance Features

• All-Wheel Drive (AWD)—AWD distributes power more evenly to both front and rear wheels to maximize traction.
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)—ABS prevents the onset of wheel lockup, even when the brakes are firmly applied. ABS also helps control steering. However, ABS will not help you stop faster; drivers still need to firmly apply the brakes.

Traction Control—Traction control detects when a tire is slipping and corrects the wheel spin by slowing the wheel's movement. This helps maintain a vehicle's "steerability" and is especially useful on slippery surfaces.