Everything You Need to Know about Convertible Safety

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Now that the warm weather is here many of us dream of owning a convertible -I’ve already put the Nissan CrossCabriolet convertible on my birthday list! -but the safety of these vehicles makes many people hesitant to go ahead and make the purchase.

Here I’ve included some important questions and tips to help you determine for yourself just how safe a convertible is.

How is the safety of a convertible measured?

A branch of the government called the National Highway Safety Division handles all vehicle safety evaluations. They examine the structural integrity of a car and perform front, rear and side crash tests to try and predict how a car will withstand a real crash.

In these crash tests the vehicle is hit by moving objects traveling at a speed of 20mph or greater (the highest speed is 41mph, used in the frontal crash tests). After the crash the testers look at a number of things, including how far into the passenger space a car’s body protrudes, and how the safety restraints respond to determine how structurally safe a vehicle is. Testers also use slow-motion film, and dummies rigged with sensors are used to try and determine the amount of injury that would be done to an average human.

Testers then convert the statistical data from these crashes into an overall safety rating, based on a five-star system. Cars that are given five out of five stars are among the safest cars on the market; however, avoid cars that are given a star rating lower than three as they are some of the least safe cars you could purchase.

Important safety questions to ask when purchasing a car.

Knowing as much as possible about the safety features of a vehicle you intend to purchase can stop you from making a potentially dangerous purchase. Arm yourself with these questions when you head to your local dealer:

1. Is there a pop-up roll bar or an A-pillar? Some models now include a pop-up roll bar in the rear of the car to protect passengers in the backseat in the case of a collision or rollover. Similarly, some new models also include an A-pillar around the windshield of the car, which serves the same function as the roll bar but protects passengers in the front seat. These additional bars help provide the body of the car with more strength and stability.
2. How are the other safety features? Since a convertible is more vulnerable in the case of a rollover it’s important that the car’s other safety features overcompensate for this weakness. Ask about the technology behind the anti-lock brakes, windshield heaters and the stability and traction controls.
3. Where are the car’s airbags? With convertibles extra, more durable airbags are needed to help keep passengers in place in the case of a crash. For maximum safety make sure your model of convertible has both front and side mounted airbags that incorporate head restraint whiplash protection technology. Look at a model like the Volvo C70, which uses air curtains as opposed to traditional air bags. Air curtains inflate upwards from the waist (unlike normal air bags which inflate downward) and have an extra thick construction, and delayed deflation to add extra protection in rollovers.

The Best Tips for Convertible Safety

Now that you’ve purchased a reliable convertible there are several tips to keep in mind to ensure you and your loved ones are as safe as possible.

1. Always wear your seatbelts! I’m sure you’ve heard this warning before, but it’s especially important to wear your seatbelt when riding in a convertible, as they may be the only thing keeping you in car. If you have children set strict rules about seatbelts and perform frequent checks t make sure everyone is buckled in.
2. Keep arms and legs in the car. When there’s no roof on your cars it’s tempting to stick an arm or leg out to catch the breeze but any limb outside of the vehicle is especially prone to injury. Keep those hands, arms and legs in the car at all times.
3. Don’t leave stuff lying around. We all lead busy lives these days and it’s easy to leave shoes, clothes, pen, you name it lying around in our cars, however, if a crash were to occur these objects can launched about the car and potentially cause harm. Make sure everything in your car is properly put away and stowed to keep it in place.

Resource by J.Ellis

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