Did you know that about 3.3 million automobiles were sold in the United States in 2021?
According to Statista, another 11.6 million light trucks were sold last year–bringing the total number of light vehicles sold to about 14.9 million.
If you’re going to buy a new vehicle this year, you might as well get your money’s worth. Whether or not you consider yourself a car person, driving around in a new car with the latest tech beats cruising the highways in a rusted-out beater.
The global chip shortage is still upon us due to the lingering effects of COVID-19 lockdowns, but there’s some hope that things will get sorted out by the second half of 2022. So, if your current vehicle is near the end of its lifecycle, you’ll want to start thinking about what you want next.
Keep reading to learn about 5 essential tech options you’ll want in any new vehicle you buy.
1. Lane Departure Warning
If you’re buying a new car, you’ll want one equipped with a lane departure warning system. It relies on cameras to keep track of road markers and will notify you if you’re on the verge of crossing over into another lane. Depending on the automaker, the warning might come with an audible or a visual prompt. A notification can also come via a vibrating steering wheel or even a vibrating seat. If you do a lot of driving, you’ll appreciate this safety feature. You might wonder how you drove without a lane departure warning system before.
2. Driver Drowsiness Monitoring
Another feature to consider is driver drowsiness monitoring. It’ll help ensure you remain alert and tuned in while traveling on the highway or roadway. The goal is to keep you from dozing off or getting distracted while driving. The technology uses a camera and sensors to assess the location of your eyes and head. If the system believes you’re perhaps falling asleep, you’ll get a warning to get your attention. It can spare you from getting into accidents that necessitate calling a personal injury lawyer.
3. Traffic Sign Recognition
Have you ever driven in an unfamiliar area and failed to notice a sign or could not decipher the faded prin on a sign? If you buy a vehicle equipped with a traffic sign recognition system, you’ll be able to kiss those frustrations goodbye. A traffic sign recognition system will let you know if you need to adjust your speed, if you’re approaching a school zone, or if you need to yield to oncoming traffic.
4. Surround-View Camera
Back-up camera systems are great–but surround-view camera systems are even better. Such a system incorporates multiple cameras on the outside of the vehicle. For instance, you can get a bird’s eye view, a front view, and a back view. You’ll find it easier to park if you have a surround-view camera system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes there are about 15,000 backover mishaps and twice as many backing up car accident injuries annually in the U.S. You can avoid such problems with a surround-view camera system.
5. Automatic Parking
Do you have trouble with parallel parking? Do you sometimes have difficulty backing into a parking spot in a parking lot? Getting a car with an automatic parking system means that the vehicle can park itself. Some systems will allow your vehicle to pull itself out of the parking spot. Some automatic parking systems do all the work, while others assist but require driver participation.
These are just some of the features you’ll want in your new vehicle. But there are loads more. Some of them will come standard with the vehicle while other options will require more money. Buf if you want a great car that’s safe and reliable, there’s certain tech you need.
