Rates for vehicle insurance in Calgary are primarily guided by your driving record. Drivers with strong safety track records enjoy reduced discounts, as they are deemed by insurers to pose lower risk.
You may not realize it, but vehicle manufacturers install all kinds of features designed to help you avoid accidents and stay safe on the road. Knowing how to take full advantage of these features can reduce your chances of being in a collision, which can do a lot more than just keep your car insurance costs in check; it might even save your life.
Get to Know Your Car’s Safety Features
Transport Canada offers a comprehensive guide to common vehicle safety features. If your vehicle was built anytime after 2011, it came equipped with some form of electronic stability control (ESC). In essence, electronic stability control systems are designed to facilitate accident avoidance by providing computerized steering and manoeuvring assistance that kicks in when you make a sudden, unexpected move.
Transport Canada mandated the inclusion of ESC systems in all passenger vehicles built for use on Canadian roads as of September 1, 2011. Electronic stability control supplements the proven effectiveness of anti-lock braking systems, another common safety feature you should understand, particularly given Calgary’s often-difficult driving conditions.
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) prevent your car’s wheels from seizing up when you have to brake suddenly, helping you avoid skids and maintain better control over your vehicle in such situations. ABS systems use precision sensors, which determine if one or more of your vehicle’s wheels are locking down due to intense braking. If such a lock-down is detected, the ABS system will automatically reduce the braking pressure on affected wheels, which helps you keep better control of directional momentum and steering.
As a side note, it can be dangerous to keep all-season tires on your car during the winter months. Winter tires offer a scientifically engineered alternative, which is proven to help drivers maintain traction and control in snowy, wet and slippery conditions. They are an investment you are advised to make, as winter tires go a long way toward helping you steer clear of weather-related accidents and driving mishaps.
The Value of Airbags
Like electronic stability control systems, airbags have been mandated by Transport Canada as required equipment in passenger vehicles. They are built into the panels of your vehicle’s interior, and are designed to automatically launch upon impact. Airbags provide passengers with vital impact absorption, helping prevent and reduce the severity of injuries. They are credited with saving thousands of lives each year.
Airbags were developed in automotive laboratories, and were perfected through intensive testing and design improvements. When a vehicle’s forward momentum encounters a strong, sudden barrier (as it would in a crash), or if the airbag sensors detect impact with a stationary object, it will automatically deploy. Statistics have since shown that airbags reduce your chances of dying in a high-speed crash with frontal impact by 30 percent.
More Built-In Safety Features
Automobile manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve the safety of their products. Some of the newer technologies appearing in today’s vehicles include:
- Collision avoidance systems, which warn drivers when they are approaching a potential frontal impact situation
- Back-up cameras, which give drivers a clear view of traffic and obstacles behind their vehicles when they are in reverse
- Adaptive headlights, which are designed to give drivers a better view around curves in roads when driving at night
- Side-view assist features, which warn you if you’re about to make a lane change when another vehicle is in your blind spot
Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who choose vehicles with superior safety features. Before you buy a new car or truck, do your research to see which makes and models qualify.
Vehicle Insurance Calgary: Safety Resources and Competitive Rates from Lane’s Insurance
At Lane’s Insurance, we want all drivers to enjoy better levels of safety and security while on the road. That’s why Lane’s maintains an extensive library of digital resources designed to help educate drivers on the continuing evolution of best practices for road safety. However, accidents do happen, and if you’ve been involved in one, it’s important that you know the proper steps to take to protect your interests.
Visit Lane’s Insurance online today to get a fast, free quote. Remember that Lane’s also offers deep discounts to clients who bundle their home and vehicle insurance together!
