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.
Blind spots
Possible solution: Blind-spot warning
What it does: Warns you, via a light in or near the side mirrors, if there's a vehicle in the lane next to you. Some will flash if you activate a turn signal while a car is there.
Availability: Widely available on luxury cars. Also an option on cars like the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Fusion, and Ford Taurus.
Estimated cost: $500
Worth it? Yes, if the warning lights are large enough to see easily. On the Audi Q7, a line of bright flashing lights on the mirror housing clearly indicate that there's a car in the blind spot. At the other extreme, however, GM models "alert" the driver with a fingernail-size outline of two cars in the outer corner of the mirror itself. It's easy to miss, and therefore not much better than relying solely on the mirror.
NEXT: Back-over accidents
