10 ways to avoid a car crash

Many people equate car safety with crashworthiness. But Consumer Reports believes the technology that helps you avoid the crash in the first place is just as valuable.

Consumer Reports lists its Top 10 advanced safety features, in order of preference. Even if they come bundled into a package with other tech items that you might not want, which can raise the car’s price, it believes these potentially lifesaving options are worth the extra cash.

1. Forward-Collision Warning (FCW). Using laser, radar or cameras, these systems assess surrounding conditions, as well as the speed of your approach to a potential impact with a vehicle ahead of you. They will alert you with visual and/or audible signals to a potential crash, allowing you time to react. Some systems also sense and alert you to the potential for a collision with pedestrians.

2. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). These systems add to the benefits of forward-collision warning. AEB will sense a potential collision, and if you don’t react in time, the car will initiate braking.

3. Blind-Spot Warning. This technology detects and warns of vehicles you can’t see. The system scans the sides of the vehicle to warn of vehicles’ presence in blind spots. It alerts drivers with a visible, audible and/or tactile alert to indicate that it’s unsafe to merge or change lanes. Consumer Reports’ readers rate it at the top of their favorites.

4. Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. These systems sense traffic that may cross your path as you reverse, which can be helpful when you’re backing out of a parking space or driveway. Some systems will automatically brake for the driver to avoid an object.

5. Backup Cameras. This camera-based assistance system is activated when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The rear view is displayed in a center console screen or rear-view mirror. Some vehicles have a parking assistance system that visually diagrams a lined guided parking path to track your steering angle. Cross-traffic alerts and overhead view cameras can also be integrated into the camera view.

6. Automatic High Beams. This function automatically switches from low to high beams and back again for improved nighttime visibility as conditions warrant.

7. Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA). In addition to sensing when you leave your lane, this technology will induce mild steering input to put you back into your lane. It’s most useful on highways, where the driver can become sleepy or distracted. But, Consumer Reports notes, it can be overly intrusive on rural two-lane roads. Courteously giving a wide berth to a cyclist or pedestrian may cause the system to steer the car back toward the curb, scaring everyone involved.

8. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). By using lasers, radar, cameras or a combination of those systems, ACC systems automatically adjust vehicle speed in order to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. If traffic slows, some systems will bring the car to a complete stop and automatically come back to speed when traffic gets going again.

9. Parking-Assist Systems. These are a series of sensors in the front, rear or both bumpers that alert you at low speeds that cars, light poles, walls, shrubbery and other obstacles are getting close.

10. Lane-Departure Warning (LDW). The use of cameras, lasers or infrared sensors assists you with sound or vibration warnings to let you know when you have drifted out of your lane.

To learn more, visit ConsumerReports.org.

2016 Consumers Union Inc.