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Written by Kayla Jane Barrie Updated on Feb 21, 2025 5 mins read

⊸ Blog⊸ Car Safety Features: Which Ones Top The List?

Safety features to consider when choosing a vehicle

Car safety features are an important consideration when choosing a vehicle. Over the past few years, the number of vehicle safety features has ballooned. There is a lot more to choose from than airbags and anti-lock braking systems.

Are you in the market for a new vehicle? Looking for some aftermarket safety devices to improve your vehicle? Here we will outline the top safety features in vehicles today. Learn about mandatory car safety features and how they can affect your car insurance quote.

Three key takeaways about vehicle safety features

  • Safety features help reduce the risk of crashes.
  • While car safety features reduce accident risk, they don't replace the importance of safe driving practices.
  • Advanced safety features can sometimes increase premiums because the expensive sensors and electronics they contain make repairs more costly, increasing the cost claims.

What car safety features are mandatory in Canada?

All vehicles in Canada must meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Park assist, backup cameras, parking sensors, and other technology are all helping to improve road safety. However, they can also make it more challenging to know what vehicle package to choose when leasing or financing your next car.

While advanced safety systems in cars are often touted as a major safety improvement, the evidence suggests they do make a positive difference. Studies, like one by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, have shown that vehicles equipped with blind-spot monitoring systems experience a 14% lower crash involvement rate compared to their counterparts without the feature.

Here are the safety features in a car that are required by law in Canada.

  • ABS (Anti-lock Braking System): This has been mandatory in all new Canadian passenger cars since 2012, and is a crucial safety feature. ABS prevents wheel lock-up during hard braking, allowing you to maintain steering control and stop more effectively. By rapidly pumping the brakes, ABS ensures the tires grip the road, helping you steer clear of obstacles even during emergency stops. This technology is a vital component of traction control and Electronic Stability Control systems.
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC): Determines where the vehicle is going in relation to the direction you are steering. For example, if it detects a skid, it will apply the brake on specific wheels.
  • Traction Control: This is part of the ESC system and will activate if one wheel spins on a slippery surface, traction control will apply the brakes.
  • Airbags: Vehicles will come with six main airbags – in the steering wheel, the passenger side dash, front seat-side airbags and curtain airbags.
  • Vehicle brakes: Brakes must have disc brakes on the front and rear wheels.
  • Seatbelts: Under Ontario’s seat belt laws, are required for every seating position in your vehicle. If you get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt you could see an increase on your insurance.
  • Mirrors: Mirrors should be attached externally to the driver and passenger sides.
  • Rear-view cameras: Rear-view cameras were made a required safety feature in all light-duty vehicles as of 2018. Rearview cameras, activated when you shift into reverse, provide a clear view of what's behind your vehicle, enhancing safety when backing up. The image typically displays on the center screen, but may also appear in the instrument cluster or rearview mirror. Beyond the basic camera function, many advanced features are available, including dynamic lines for guidance, sensors for blind spot detection, and 360-degree or "bird's eye" views for a comprehensive awareness of your surroundings.
  • Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): Must be installed on all vehicles, but some are easier to use than others. If you are buying a new vehicle and will be using a child seat, bring the seat with you to try.

Can safety features lower car insurance?

Vehicle safety features help reduce the risk of crashes. Unfortunately, they rarely lower insurance. The overall vehicle safety rating will have a bigger impact on lower policy costs.

Sometimes, advanced safety features can actually increase insurance premiums. Why? Advanced safety features and technology are more expensive to repair due to the sensors and electronics. This drives up the cost of a car insurance claim.

Top 12 new safety features when buying a vehicle

New vehicles have many safety features that can help prevent common accidents and make roads safer for all. Here are the top twelve vehicle safety features.

  1. Blind spot detection: Blind spots are hidden from the view of the driver. They are usually located on the side near the trunk of the vehicle. They vary based on the vehicle. Blind spot detection systems will trigger when you are changing lanes or if someone is driving in your blind spot. But, remember this is not a replacement for checking your mirrors.
  2. Lane assist: Lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning is a group of sensors that will detect the lines on the road. If the vehicle edges along the line the sensor will beep to notify the driver.
  3. Adaptive headlights: Traditional headlights are fixed, pointing straight ahead. Some vehicles have self-levelling, but standard headlights remain static. Adaptive headlights, however, swivel with the steering wheel, illuminating the area to the right or left during turns for enhanced visibility.
  4. Adaptive cruise control: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), once a luxury feature, is now common in many vehicles. ACC uses sensors to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. It automatically applies brakes and warns the driver if they get too close. Drivers can set a speed limit, but ACC will adjust the speed to maintain a safe distance in traffic or other conditions.
  5. Forward collision warning: Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is a series of signals on the four sides of the vehicle to create a safe distance. If there is an obstruction or space is penetrated, the system will alert the driver.
  6. Autonomous emergency braking: This can replace FCW and will stop the vehicle without the driver’s intervention. It will be more precise when determining emergencies.
  7. Backup cameras: Also called reverse cameras. They assist drivers when reversing. They show a visual behind the vehicle and have lines on the in-car video to aid with parking.
  8. Pedestrian detection: This aims to protect those outside the vehicle. This feature has a camera that monitors movement by pedestrians and cyclists and will alert the driver. Some have the option to automatically brake. This can be especially helpful if you are driving in the city and want to lower your Toronto car insurance.
  9. Rear cross traffic alert: This uses sensors to identify pedestrians or vehicles that approach the vehicle from the sides or back. This feature is useful in crowded parking lots and busy streets.
  10. Parking sensors: Also called proximity sensors, they aid drivers when maneuvering into a parking spot. The sensors can detect other parked cars, tall curbs and other obstructions.
  11. Driver-attention monitor: This helps to prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving and distracted driving. The system monitors the car's movements and steering to see if the driver is driving attentively.
  12. Traffic-sign recognition: This is a camera-based system that looks for road signs and presents the data to the driver as a reminder.

Can you add safety features to your car?

There are some aftermarket safety features you can add to your vehicle. Some can be done at home while others will need to be installed by a professional. Keep in mind you may need additional coverage to repair or replace these features if there is an accident. Here are four safety features to consider adding to your car:

  1. Forward collision warning/lane departure warning systems: For around $1,000, you can add forward-collision warning to your car. This system will send an alert when a collision is up to 2.7 seconds away. Another option is to add a dash cam to record the space around you when driving.
  2. Backup camera: Whether you are driving a large SUV or a sports car, a backup camera can show what is behind you and a wide-angle view. Adding a backup camera can add up to $300 to your invoice.
  3. Blind spot detection: Blind spot systems use sensors to monitor the space around the vehicle and flash an icon to the driver if there is an obstruction within 10 feet of the vehicle.
  4. Tire pressure monitoring systems: This safety system will send an alert if there is a deflated tire, which can cause overheating, blowout, and even crashes.

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Car safety features FAQs

Although many new vehicles are equipped with more safety features than ever, there is five common safety features in a car include :

  1. Airbags
  2. Antilock brakes
  3. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
  4. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
  5. Adaptive Headlights

Active safety features are put in place to totally avoid an accident. In the event of a collision occurring, passive safety features are meant to activate and reduce the risk of injury during the time of impact. Active safety features include traction control, stability control, braking systems, advanced driver assist and collision warning. Passive safety features include seat belts, airbags, and overall construction of the vehicle.

Adding new car safety features can add thousands of dollars to the cost of a vehicle. Some are very helpful, while others are useful and fall into the nice-to-have category. You really need to determine if you will use them or not. They may or may not be worth it.

Car safety features lower the chances of an accident, but it does not mean you can ignore checking your blind spots and mirrors. They can help you stay safe and give you peace of mind and you have more protection.

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Kayla Jane Barrie

Digital Content Writer

Kayla-Jane has been a content writer with ThinkInsure since 2020. She creates insurance content for auto, home, and commercial. Kayla-Jane has a diploma in Journalism.

Categories Auto
Tags Driving TipsBuy and Sell Vehicles

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