Recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data confirms that newer vehicles are safer than older vehicles. Those same statistics show that vehicles made before 1993 are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those cars manufactured after 2013. You must understand stand that just because a vehicle has more safety features doesn’t mean that the driver behind the wheel of the other car is safe though.
Motorists pose many different dangers out on the road. A driver who gets behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can quite easily cause a serious accident.
Drivers who use their cellphones while riding down the road may not be aided by accident prevention features found on newer models of cars. More than 40,000 teenagers die as a result of auto crashes every year. Texting and driving is the leading cause of death among teenagers.
Newer vehicles do have better stability control features like all-wheel driving as well as side and head air bags. Many cars now come equipped with early warning detection systems that warn drivers if they’re too close to the vehicle in front of them or if another one is in their blind spot.
Older vehicles may be more prone to having mechanical problems than newer cars do. NHTSA data shows that cars that are more than 5 years old and have significant mileage on them tend to be less safe than a newer vehicle.
The age of a vehicle can give motorists false impressions about how safe their car is. They can make drivers feel that they can safely operate a vehicle while they’re intoxicated, distracted, drowsy or at a higher rate of speed and that they won’t get involved in an accident. This often isn’t the case though. An attorney can help you hold a negligent motorist accountable if their reckless driving caused you to get hurt here in Prince George’s County or elsewhere in Maryland.