Safety Features Worth Having in Your Next Car

MT. PLEASANT, Mich.–– Safety on the road is more important than ever before! According to the National Security Council, vehicle deaths in 2016 went up by 6% and were the highest they've been since 2007. While remaining cautious and aware on the road will greatly reduce your chances of getting into a car accident, additional safety features in newer vehicles can also help to prevent accidents from occurring. Read on to learn about the new safety features worth having in your next car, and get all of the information on them for when you finally purchase your next vehicle. To learn what vehicles offer these features, take a look at our vehicle inventory to preview each vehicle's unique safety features and their benefits!

Lane Keep Assist

Lane Keep Assist technology is a camera-based system that alerts you when you unintentionally drift into another lane. If you don't move back into your lane and continue to drift, the system will gently nudge your steering wheel to keep you in your lane. The technology monitors the patterns of the road and alerts you through your vehicle dashboard display with images and audio alerts to keep you aware on the road. Lane Keep Assist technology also ensures your accountability on the road by sending you alerts when you don't use your turn signals. This keeps you and others safer on multi-lane roads and highways.

Forward Safety Awareness

Similar to Lane Keep Assist, Forward Safety Awareness technology uses cameras to monitor and then alert you of impending danger in front of the vehicle, reminding drivers to keep a safe distance from vehicles ahead of them. The technology uses a radar system to alert you of slowing vehicles ahead of you through your vehicle dashboard display and sound. If an imminent collision is about to occur, the Forward Safety Awareness technology will automatically apply brakes to either reduce the damage of a collision or prevent it from occurring at slower speeds.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Rear Cross Traffic Alert technology informs you of approaching drivers or hazards as you back out of parkings spots or driveways with radar technology and the vehicle's rear-facing camera. Using the vehicle dashboard display, Rear Cross Traffic Alert gives you a clear image of the area behind the vehicle, providing alerts for moving objects, nearby hazards, and radar to protect you from backing into anything. This technology works hand-in-hand with Rear Camera technology, which is standard on every new General Motors vehicle.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Available on most modern GM vehicles, Adaptive Cruise Control technology helps to improve traditional cruise control technology with new, advanced features. It allows you to adjust your cruise control speed to automatically match the drivers in front of you, virtually eliminating the need to constantly brake and accelerate to accommodate others' speeds. You can also adjust the "follow gap", or space between other vehicles, to give other drivers a short or wide berth so they're able to merge into your lane accordingly. 

Front and Rear Parking Assist

With Front and Rear Parking Assist technology, you'll never have to worry about parking in a difficult spot again! Front and rear facing cameras on the vehicle provide digital guidelines and alerts to help you adjust your position to prevent you from hitting other vehicles. This technology is poised to help everyone, from new drivers to experts, and can be used in parallel park situations to ease the process and make it significantly less stressful for drivers. This technology is standard on most GM models and is a great additional feature to compliment your new ride!

While it is impossible to predict the behaviors of other drivers, remaining aware and alert from the moment you pull out of your driveway to the moment you park will help greatly reduce your chances of getting in an accident. These safety features worth having in your next car will help to further reduce your risk, but should be used in conjunction with your alertness! Don't use these safety features as an excuse to not pay attention on the road. In the event of an accident, first, follow our FAQ on car accidents, then call us for additional accident assistance. We can assist you through the entire process, from towing your vehicle to contacting your insurance. Don't hesitate to ask for help!

At Graff Buick GMC Cadillac, we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

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5 Common Auto Collision Accidents & Tips to Avoid Them

MT. PLEASANT, Mich.,–– There are many ways that your vehicle can be damaged on the road through accidents and collisions. Because each accident and each car involved is different, there are unique maintenance costs and timeframes for repair. Any accident or collision can be scary, time consuming, and costly, which is why we want to help you avoid it! We've put together a list of 5 common auto collision accidents & tips to avoid them to help keep you, your passengers, and your vehicle safe on the road!

1. Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions are some of the most common accidents that happen on the road. Depending on how fast the rear-ender is going, repairs can be little to none, or very costly. If you're the rear-ender, you might have more damage to critical components, while the rear-ended vehicle will have more body damage. Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, which means your personal insurance will cover some-all of the cost of your damage repair. How can you avoid this situation? Stay alert and follow other cars at an appropriate distance based on the speed your traveling. Distractions as small as switching the radio station can take your eyes away from the road, making you more prone to accidents, especially if you're following close behind. 

2. Side-Impact Collisions

Side-impact collisions are also known as "T-Bone" and "broadside" collisions. A side-impact collision is when the side of a vehicle is hit by the front of another vehicle or an object. While the damages may vary depending on what angle the car hits at and how fast each vehicle is going, these collisions can be expensive and extremely dangerous. Many of these collisions happen in intersections, so slow down and pay extra attention to other driver's movements as you go through, even when the light is green!

3. Single Car Accidents

A single car accident is exactly as it sounds and only involves one car. These types of accidents can lead to property damage and injury, as well as damage to various parts of your vehicle depending on the situation. These accidents regularly occur in Michigan due to animal crossings and slippery roads during the winter, but mostly occur because drivers aren't paying attention or aren't fully aware of their surroundings. To avoid these situations, utilize your windows and mirrors to the fullest and always check to see what's around your vehicle before making an action. When the road conditions are bad, or there are animals out and about, slow down and pay attention. 

4. Vehicle Rollover

A vehicle rollover is a more extreme type of collision that occurs when a vehicle flips over on its side or the roof. These are usually caused by extremely sharp turns at very high speeds, or by hitting an object that can make the vehicle go airborne. While every vehicle has the potential to be involved in a rollover accident, SUVs are much more likely to end up in rollover accidents due to their height and center of gravity. Always slow down when turning and stay within your lane to avoid these types accidents, especially if you're in a taller vehicle or are turning sharply. 

5. Sideswipe Collisions

Sideswipe collisions usually take place when two parallel cars make contact and 'swipe' each other. This is caused when one driver doesn't pay attention to their blind spots, or is aimlessly drifting on the highway. These accidents can happen with both vehicles traveling the same direction or the opposite direction, too. Depending on the speed and angle of collision, the cost of repair varies, but most of the damage will be on the body of the vehicles. To avoid these collisions, pay attention to the cars around you and avoid being close to cars that are drifting into others' lanes. 

We hope this guide on 5 common auto collision accdients & tips to avoid them helps you drive with more awareness and caution on the road! While it's impossible to predict the behaviors of other drivers, maintaining safe and cautious driving behaviors yourself will minimize your chances of ending up in an accident. If you find yourself in an accident and need someone to lean on, you can feel confident in getting accident assistance from the team at our Collision Center, located at our Chevrolet dealership. We provide towing, rental vehicles, communication with your insurance company, and confidence throughout the repair process. 

At Graff Buick GMC Cadillac, we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

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