Road Safety Week: The safest winter cars
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 18 November 2020
UPDATED: 18 November 2020
Darker commutes, wetter conditions and slippery surfaces mean only one thing – winter is here. Even the best of drivers dread taking to the roads during this time of year, and for good reason.
It has been found that car accidents are 20% more likely to occur in the winter months, with heavy rainfall, ice and snow all factors that worsen driving conditions, impacting road safety.
If this wasn’t alarming enough, further research indicates that many don’t know how to adapt driving habits for the winter when in actual fact, breaking distances, speed consideration and gear choices should all be influenced by the conditions you’re driving in.
Unfortunately, these climate factors are out of our hands. But what we do have more control over is the car we choose to drive. As technology advances, cars on the market today are fitted with some of the smartest safety features around, making life on the road much less hazardous.
According to Caroline Hill, vehicle expert at Pink Car Leasing, a Leicestershire-based vehicle leasing company, here are some of the safest winter cars:
Mercedes-Benz A Class Diesel Hatchback A200d AMG Line 5dr Auto
This Mercedes-Benz A Class has a spot on this list for a number of reasons. Namely, the crash responsive emergency lighting is an ideal winter safety feature that lights up the interior of the vehicle should it be involved in an accident.
This is particularly beneficial as more accidents occur on country roads, which are commonly much darker, narrower and often, unlit, than motorways. The emergency lighting feature of the A Class therefore, allows the driver and any passengers to see what has happened, and alerts passers-by of the accident to avoid any further damage from occurring.
Other safety features include:
- Speed sensitive power steering
- Attention assist
- Active lane keep assist
- Autonomous breaking
- 180-degree rear view camera with Parking guidelines
- Remote central locking
Mercedes-Benz CLA Class
Another Mercedes-Benz that has made the list is the CLA Class. This particular model is fitted with a smart, pre-safe system whereby sensors have been placed throughout the vehicle and are able to sense a collision before it occurs.
With dangers more common in the winter, and less visible due to the conditions, these sensors provide drivers with a vital safety net.
Other safety features include:
- Active brake assist with cross-traffic function
- Multibeam LED headlamps
- Driving assistance package, which recognises dangers and displays warnings
Tesla Model 3 Saloon Standard Plus 4dr Auto
Moving away from Mercedes, the Tesla is another luxury model of car that comes with some unmatched safety features. A notable feature is the strength and sturdiness of the outer material used to make the cars.
In the unfortunate event of a collision, the aluminium and steel structure of this Tesla provides ultimate protection for the driver and any passengers.
Other safety features include:
- Lane support system
- Speed assist
- Automatic emergency braking
- Emergency lane departure avoidance
Volkswagen T Cross
The Volkswagen T Cross features a blind spot sensor that comes in handy during the winter months. While blind spots can cause issues in even the best of conditions, the darkness and more frequent extreme weather conditions make roads and other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists much more difficult to see in the winter.
The sensor provides assistance when it is most needed, offering protection to the driver, passengers and all others on the road.
Other safety features include:
- Land assist – lane departure warning
- High Beam Assist
- Parking distance control
- Adaptive cruise control
Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris is an affordable yet incredibly safe car for the winter. The road sign assist system can detect signs on the side of the road and then automatically displays them on the dashboard for easy reference.
Again, when weather conditions are bad, this feature allows motorists to concentrate on driving without worrying about missing signs and warnings.
The Toyota Yaris also has a night-time pedestrian detection system which also helps to keep others on the road safe during the longer periods of darkness in the winter.
Other safety features include:
- Low speed pre-collision system
- Tyre pressure monitor system
- Emergency steering assist
- Intelligent adaptive cruise control
Of course, cars aren’t just for winter. And while these models do provide safety all year round, with a flexible leasing option, drivers can choose to change their cars depending on variables, such as the weather or other seasonal conditions.
So, with a difficult few months ahead and many other things occupying our minds, stay safe on the road this winter and avoid an accident adding to the list of unfortunate events of this year.
