Safety Sells

Long before Ralph Nader played his part-love it or hate it-influencing the outcome of the Presidential Election of 2000, he influenced the auto industry for decades by making safety a word to remember. By the 1990s, the auto industry, motivated by the realization that safety sells, moved to offer high-tech safety features such as whiplash systems, side curtain airbags, and stability control systems. With more safety features than ever, and a heightened consumer awareness of auto safety, you owe it to yourself and your family to choose the vehicle that's safest. Here are some tips on how to find it:

Check the crash-test ratings. There are two main organizations that independently crash-test vehicles in the U.S.: the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the insurance industry's Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Consumer Reports magazine (Consumers Union) also does low-speed bumper testing on vehicles. The NHTSA posts front, side, and rear crash-test results with ratings based on the estimated likelihood of injury for the driver and passengers, and the agency also figures Rollover Resistance Ratings for all vehicles, including popular SUVs. Also check the NHTSA's database for any safety problems, recalls, or service issues pertaining to the model you're considering. For a second opinion, see the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 40-mph offset crash tests, low-speed bumper tests, and head restrain tests. As a general rule, heavier vehicles offer better protection in multi-vehicle crashes, although this isn't necessarily the case for single-vehicle crashes.

Check the level of safety equipment in the car. Anti-lock brakes are a must. You might never rely on them in normal driving, but they'll prove themselves in panic situations. Now, even on many inexpensive models, side airbags are optional, and anti-lock brakes are standard in all but the cheapest models. With most insurance companies giving discounts for such equipment, and resale values with such equipment higher (now that consumers are more safety savvy), even if you're never in an accident it could pay off to have them. Traction control does little for overall safety, but a stability control system can prevent an accident on a slippery corner, intervening quietly before the driver can react.

A safe back seat is a must for the kids. If you have smaller children, they should always sit in the back seat, in a proper child seat or booster seat. Make sure that the child seat and booster seat can be safely anchored in the back.

Does the car fit your needs? Is there adequate space for your pets, cargo, and anything else that you might occasionally carry? You shouldn't ever have to compromise visibility or compromise your driving position for cargo-for instance, by cramming a snowboard into a small sedan or having to move the front seat forward for rear-seat passengers.

How do you fit the car? Really, this is serious. Can you barely reach the pedals or the steering wheel? Or are your knees mashed against the center console? If so, then aside from being uncomfortable, you're likely to sustain added injuries if you're ever in a crash. You'd probably find it hard to respond quickly in an emergency, too, if you don't fit well in the driver's seat. The driver's chest should be positioned at least ten inches from the steering wheel, to assure proper operation of the airbag. On the opposite scale, taller drivers shouldn't have to recline the seatback to fit comfortably. Some vehicles are now coming with adjustable pedals to help shorter drivers get a safer position, but not much can be done to help the tall ones.

Do you feel comfortable driving it? Take the car that you are potentially going to purchase on a daylong test drive, if possible. Make sure you feel confident about the way it brakes, steers, and rides. Seat comfort and comfort with a car's controls play a very important role in safety, so don't choose a vehicle that you don't feel comfortable with.