The future of car safety is here
New, groundbreaking features can alert you to danger before you even know it's there. But added safety comes at added cost.
Collision warning
Possible solution: Collision warning and mitigation
What it does: Warns you with light or sound if you must take action to avoid crashing into something ahead of you. Most systems ready the brakes for a quick stop. Some prepare the cabin for impact - tightening seatbelts, raising seatbacks, even closing windows.
Availability: Mostly on luxury cars, like Mercedes, Volvos, and Lincolns. Now also an option on the Ford Taurus.
Estimated cost: $1,500
Worth it? Definitely. Driving a new Lincoln MKT one day this summer, I was ogling a 1960s Ferrari on my left when a loud alarm sounded. The car ahead had stopped short. I hit the brakes, and the MKT ground to a halt - anecdotal evidence that this feature can prevent rear-enders. The only caveat: On some cars you may need to adjust the system's sensitivity, so that it won't be too easily triggered by stop-and-go traffic.
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