New Cars Keep You Safer in More Ways Than Just Advanced Safety Features

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Car safety is one of the most important aspects of a vehicle. And fortunately, vehicles have grown safer over the years. There are many reasons for this, and the introduction of smart safety features has definitely helped keep riders safer. That said, new cars also better protect occupants in other ways. Here’s how.

Advanced safety features better protect drivers and passengers

Audi Q8 advanced safety features | Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images

The only safety features older cars have are seatbelts and airbags, but that’s changed a lot. Nowadays, many new cars come with a long list of standard safety features. Even if a car doesn’t have those features as standard, many automakers will still offer them as options. 

For instance, these smart safety features include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. These features, when they come standard on a car, are great. However, they’re only options on some vehicles. As such, you might be wondering if they’re worth the extra money. The long and short of it is that, yes, they are worth it.

According to Forbes, cars equipped with advanced safety features had significantly fewer insurance claims than cars that aren’t equipped with them. There was a 19% reduction in property damage claims and a 27% reduction in bodily injury claims. Vehicles with blind-spot monitoring, for instance, also have a 14% less chance of getting into an accident than the same car without it. 

But advanced safety features aren’t the only ways new cars keep you safe

Smart safety systems are cool and definitely work, but they’re not the only ways a new car can keep you safe. According to OICA, vehicle design also plays a big part in keeping drivers and passengers safe during accidents. This is especially true when a modern car is compared to an older car, as older models weren’t designed the same way modern ones are.

For example, many modern cars have a crumple zone in the front. This is an example of an innovation that newer cars have that older cars lack. Crumple zones are designed to crumple during a crash. This happens because most of the energy of the collision gets absorbed by the crumple zone, not by the vehicle occupants. As such, the crumple zone gets destroyed during a crash, but the driver and passengers are likelier to survive.

This is not the only way a modern car can keep you safe. OICA reports that newer seatbelts and airbags also help tremendously. For example, advanced airbag designs allow people to survive a wider range of crashes than before. When all of these improvements are combined, it’s no surprise cars are safer today than they were in the past.

What will be the next mandatory driver assist?

Currently, only a few safety features are mandatory. Obviously, airbags and seatbelts are required. But one of the more recent additions is the backup camera, which became mandatory on new cars a few years ago. The U.S. government requires these cameras on new models made after May 2018. And the government could mandate other safety features too.

So it’s anyone’s guess as to the next mandatory safety feature. But there are plenty of candidates. Automakers around the world have been adding driver assists to their cars. Popular vehicles, such as the 2021 Mazda CX-5, already come standard with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, and other advanced safety systems.

It’s possible any of those features could become mandatory in the future. However, semiautonomous self-driving cars seem to be the next big leap forward in safety. If automakers improve on that technology enough, it could eventually become mandatory on cars.

RELATED: Can Backup Cameras Really Prevent Accidents?

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Ford F-150 VS Toyota Land Cruiser: Which Is More Iconic?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford F-150 and the Toyota Land Cruiser are among the longest surviving nameplates of all time. They are also two of the best-selling vehicles in history. The trustworthy Land Cruiser put Toyota on the map. The immortal F-series trucks cemented Ford’s dominance. Which of these giants is more iconic?

The Toyota Land Cruiser: One Of The Oldest Surviving Nameplates

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 | Pat Brollier|Bob D’Olivo|Eric Rickman|Jack Brady|Jim McCraw|Mike Parris/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images

Toyota built the first Land Cruiser in 1951, which makes it the fourth oldest vehicle nameplate still in production. The Land Cruiser is also Toyota’s longest-running model series. In 2019, Toyota announced it had built 10 million Land Cruisers total.

Toyota first launched the Land Cruiser as a spartan, Jeep-like vehicle. The Japanese company built it for the United States Military during the Korean War. Toyota’s first U.S.-market model was the 20 series, which it followed with the iconic 40 series. 

Over successive generations, increasingly luxurious SUVs carried the Land Cruiser nameplate. But the original Land Cruiser was so iconic that Toyota spun off the retro-styled FJ Cruiser in 2006 and sold it for years alongside the more opulent and modern Land Cruiser.

The Ford F-Series: A Nameplate Even Older

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 11: The Classic Ford F3 Flathead Pickup Truck is displaying during the International Motor Show Bogota 2018 at Corferias Convention Center on November 11, 2018 in Bogota, Colombia. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Getty Images)| Ford F-150 VS Toyota Land Cruiser: Which Is More Iconic?
Classic Ford F3 Flathead Pickup | Photo by Juancho Torres/Getty Images

Ford Motor Company unveiled its first F-Series truck in 1948. This truck is the world’s third oldest surviving vehicle nameplate.

 Since before the Model T, Ford had been building trucks, but the F series was an all-new platform with eight distinct models. The half-ton was called the F-1. Ford advertising would continue rebranding the F-series trucks until the F-150 level debuted in 1975. By 1977 it became the best-selling pickup in the United States.

The F-150 badge earned so much respect that Ford has stuck with it ever since. Ford is quick to remind consumers that the F-150 is the most popular truck in America; the company sells more than 2,000 F-series trucks every day. Overall, Ford has sold 35 million F-series trucks. That is second only to the Toyota Corolla (37.5 million) and trounces the Model T’s 16.5 million sales.

The Land Cruiser Is A Seventy-Year-Old Icon

This publicity shot is a lineup of Toyota Land Cruisers from over the years. Ford F-150 VS Toyota Land Cruiser: Which Is More Iconic?
A lineup of Land Cruisers | Toyota

The Internet Movie Car Database lists 4,050 distinct appearances of a Toyota Land Cruiser in movies worldwide. This is more than most any make and model in history.

Thanks to its place in popular culture, the Toyota Land Cruiser remains a cultural icon. Each month 110,000 people Google “Toyota Land Cruiser”–in the U.S. alone.

The series 40 Land Cruisers have enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity. As a result, many enthusiasts are buying vintage Land Cruisers to fix up. The Icon 4×4 shop in Los Angeles takes restoration a step further, modding vintage Land Cruisers with high-tech bodies, modern drivetrains, and offroad-ready suspension. Stars and tastemakers are happy to pay six figures for an Icon-restored Land Cruiser restomod.

The Ford F-150 Is A Piece of Automotive History

This publicity shot is a lineup of Ford trucks from over a century of truck building. Ford F-150 VS Toyota Land Cruiser: Which Is More Iconic?
A lineup of Ford trucks | Ford

The Internet Car Movie Database lists 2,550 memorable appearances of an F-150 in films, 1,020 appearances of an F-250 and 1,680 appearances of an F-350. Thus, at least 5,250 distinct F-series trucks appear in movies–over a thousand more than the Toyota Land Cruiser.

In the United States, 310,000 people Google “Ford F150” each month. What is more, vintage F-series trucks are as popular a restoration as any other classic. The Ford Trucks forum is home to a board for vintage F-series truck enthusiasts with millions of posts, hundreds of thousands for each era of the F-series.

Conclusion

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a global phenomenon, instantly recognizable and trusted the world over. Very much like the Model T once did for Ford, the Land Cruiser put Toyota on the map and helped the company become the largest auto manufacturer in the world.

The Ford F-series truck is a piece of American history and appears to be part of America’s future. With the F-series truck, Ford hit its stride and produced one of the best-selling vehicles of all time. Even the 2020 quarantine did not slow down the F-150. And Ford is emerging stronger than ever, with the F-150 lightning.

The new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series will be available in some markets, but not in the United States. While both these vehicles are icons, only one of the two will capture the imagination of the next generation of American motorists.

RELATED: What Is The Best Selling Car Of All Time?

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Genesis GV60 Will Reportedly Offer Wireless Charging, but Not for Awhile

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Genesis may be one of the newest brands in the auto world, but it’s already making a name for itself with great vehicles like the GV80. And like other automakers, it’s slowly transitioning away from conventional cars and into EVs. The Genesis GV60 will be the luxury brand’s first EV, and though it’ll have wireless charging capability, customers will have to wait a while for it.

The Genesis GV60 will set an example

2023 Genesis GV60 cockpit | Hyundai Motor Company

Because Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand, each Genesis is essentially a more luxurious Hyundai. This will allow Hyundai to push the limits of what its cars can do. In the GV60’s case, Genesis based the EV on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform for EVs. Hyundai built the Ioniq 5 with this platform, and now, Genesis is building the GV60 off of it. 

That said, not much else is known about the GV60 right now. Genesis said it designed the new EV to have a “high-performance image.” This can be seen in its exterior design on the sides and the rear especially. For instance, a fixed rear-wing spoiler reinforces the GV60’s sporty image. But while Genesis elaborated on a few other design choices, it did not provide any specs or details about the compact crossover’s performance just yet.

The Genesis GV60 will definitely have wireless charging, eventually 

However, one certain detail is that the GV60 will have wireless charging capability, Green Car Reports says. But the rollout will be slow. Genesis will begin selling the 2023 GV60 next year, but only cars in South Korea will have access to wireless charging tech. The automaker will test wireless charging there later in 2022. If all goes well, it could enable wireless charging everywhere else.

But no matter what, it seems likely the Genesis GV60 will be the first EV in America and Europe with wireless charging capability, Green Car Reports says. Technically speaking, BMW makes EVs with wireless charging capability, but it’s still testing those. In addition, the GV60 also has a chance to become the first mass-produced car with wireless charging capability. However, it’ll be a close race between the GV60 and a few Chinese models.

Not much else is known about the GV60’s wireless charging capabilities, but it should be good, Autoblog reports. However, wireless charging might only be an option on the GV60. Pricing is unknown right now, but that option could cost about $800, based on wireless charging systems from other companies. But while customers wait for wireless charging, they can play with Genesis’ Crystal Sphere feature.

The Crystal Sphere ties the car together

According to Autoblog, for some reason, Genesis seems to have focused on the GV60’s Crystal Sphere feature more than the wireless charging. Indeed, Genesis talked a lot about how important the Crystal Sphere feature is. In fact, Genesis boasted, “The Crystal Sphere is one of the most compelling design elements of the GV60.”

According to the luxury automaker, the Crystal Sphere is actually just a sphere-shaped shift-by-wire system. That said, it also has some neat and fun features. For instance, when the GV60 is off, the Crystal Sphere will act as mood lighting for the car. When the GV60 is on, the Crystal Sphere will rotate as it performs its shift-by-wire functions.

And because of the Crystal Sphere’s location, it’ll also look like it’s floating. Thanks to those features, the Crystal Sphere should provide an “emotional connection” between the driver and the car, Genesis claims. 

RELATED: 2021 Lexus RX vs. 2021 Genesis GV80: Should You Take a Chance on the Up-and-Comer?

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Is It Legal to Smoke Cigarettes While Driving?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Smoking while driving is a habit for some people. As soon as they get in the car, they light up. This is especially true if they aren’t allowed to smoke cigarettes on the job. But some states have outlawed smoking in cars in certain situations.

Smoking a cigarette while driving | Scott Wallace/Getty Images

It’s fairly common knowledge that it’s illegal to drink and drive. But what about smoking? That’s a bit of a gray area.

The short answer is no. It isn’t illegal to smoke any form of cigarette, cigar, or vape pen while driving. The longer answer is that it depends.

According to The AA, if your smoking habit causes dangerous driving, it could lead to imprisonment, especially if you cause a wreck in which someone else dies. An example of this is swerving on the road as you try to light your cigarette.

You can smoke in most states while driving as long as a minor under 18 isn’t in the car. If a child is in the car, you could be charged. According to the OLR Research Report, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Puerto Rico have made this a law. Other states may come on board in the future.

The good news is that these violations won’t cost you much. Vermont charges about $25, which is at the cheap end. Oregon and Puerto Rico cost much more, at $250. This is for a first-time offense; repeat offenses might cost more. 

A bearded man vapes while driving a car
A man vapes while driving | Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Things become even trickier when you add in vaping. It’s legal in most states, except the ones mentioned above. There are some loopholes police can use, Insurance Quotes reports.

For example, if the smoke is so thick it obscures your windshield, a police officer could charge you with windshield obstruction. E-cigarettes could also fall under the category of portable electronic devices. Because some states don’t allow the use of such objects, you could be charged. 

Why is secondhand smoke so harmful?

There’s been plenty of research on the subject, and it’s now clear that secondhand smoke can cause harm to growing bodies. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, secondhand smoke comes off the end of a cigarette. 

According to the OLR Research Report, in a study published in Tobacco Control in 2011, “Researchers found that the concentration of smoke particles where smoking took place greatly exceeded international indoor air quality standards. Despite the fact that drivers opened windows and vents during the trips, ‘exposure intensities … remained considerable and taken as an average were about three times the [World Health Organization] guidance concentration. Exposure to [fine particulate matter] at the levels reported here is likely to be harmful to respiratory health’…”

With this in mind, it’s clear that drivers should take extra care with minors in the car. In most states, it’s a personal choice, but it might be a good idea to keep track of the laws in your state in case they change.

Can you throw cigarette butts out the window?

There’s another element to smoking while driving, including what you do with your cigarettes when you’re done with them. It can be tricky trying to get rid of them, especially now that new cars no longer come with built-in ashtrays. For some smokers, tossing their cigarettes out the window is the easiest solution. But it can also be the most expensive.

KOTA News reports that this tiny offense can cost you $122 in South Dakota. Though this might seem like a steep fine, governments have valid reasons for trying to discourage vehicle occupants from throwing cigarettes out the window.

One reason is to cut back on forest fires, which can destroy the environment, burn homes to the ground, and cause countless deaths. The other is that cigarette butts are unsightly litter. If you don’t have an ashtray in your car due, you can always buy one online. 

RELATED: 5 Dangerous Driving Distractions That Could Kill You

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