By Patrick Olsen
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and Kelsey Mays
Getting the right safety equipment is always important, but it’s even more so when you’re choosing a car for an inexperienced teen driver. Here are some guidelines to make teens safer behind the wheel:
* Make sure the models you consider get strong crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
* Side curtain air bags have been shown to seriously reduce head injuries in crashes. While more automakers are putting them into cars, they are less prevalent in older cars. Check on the original equipment list, which can be found by using a VIN decoder; your local car dealer will have one, or you can try an online version.
* With the 2012 model year, electronic stability systems will be mandated for all new vehicles. If you’re looking at an older model, look for cars that offer anti-lock brakes or stability control (cars with stability control already have anti-lock brakes built in). Stability control combines those features to keep drivers from losing control when they take a turn at the wrong speed or angle. It can’t and won’t solve reckless driving, but it can help drivers keep the car going where they meant it to go. Anti-lock brakes offer better braking control, avoiding tire lockups by pulsing the brakes. They help drivers brake in a straight line on slippery surfaces.
* Don’t buy a car with too much power. Too much horsepower with too little experience is a recipe for disaster. Most cars over the last decade have enough power to get on the freeway or accelerate out of danger.