Everyone knows that the most important thing to consider when buying a new vehicle isn’t the shape of the car’s exterior or the fabric within the interior. It’s the safety features that really count. Thankfully, the automotive industry has made serious advancements in safety over the years, so it’s easier than ever to find a vehicle with next-level safety features.

Curious about what kind of safety advancements the auto industry has made recently? Keep reading to learn about the 7 things that have improved car safety.

If you’ve seen any car commercials in the last couple of years, you’re probably familiar with the driver who’s almost caught in a collision when suddenly, the vehicle’s brakes automatically engage and the driver avoids contact with the other vehicle. This technology is known as a collision sensor.

Collision sensors detect a potential impact by recognizing vibrations and changes in gravitational force. When these changes are recognized, brakes and/or other safety measures are employed to protect the driver and passengers.

Many cars come with collision sensors already, but they can be added onto some models aftermarket. Keep in mind, most aftermarket collision sensor systems will just warn the driver if it detects a potential collision, but may not employ other safety features upon detection.

If your business has a fleet of vehicles to manage, asset tracking could be a safety feature you didn’t realize you needed. Asset tracking systems use GPS technology to keep track of vehicle locations. This helps protect equipment and drivers, and can help with maintenance scheduling. With an asset tracking system, you can even get notified anytime one of your vehicles moves, so that you can keep tabs on driver safety and prevent theft and unauthorized vehicle use.

One of the most common driving mistakes that causes accidents is when drivers fail to look closely in their blind spots. Blind spot monitoring systems have helped make roads safer for all drivers by alerting drivers when they get too close to another car or other obstacles on the road. Blind spot monitors and camera monitoring systems can both be installed aftermarket to improve the safety of your car.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Just checking your speed or fuel levels can be enough of a distraction to result in a car accident. That’s where head-up displays come in. Head-up displays, also known as HUDs, are placed right in the driver’s line of sight so they don’t have to fumble with equipment or take their attention away from the road. Many of these systems are actually transparent so you can keep your eyes on the road while you’re checking important information like navigation or your speed.

HUDs can easily be installed onto the dashboard and can integrate with smart devices so drivers can easily combine vehicle technology with smartphone technology in a safer way than ever before.

If you drive in rural areas often, you can probably remember a time when your headlights didn’t seem to work as well as they could—putting you on edge as the driver. Thanks to adaptive headlights, there’s no more uncertainty. Adaptive headlights adjust throughout the drive to illuminate changing environments as you turn corners, drive into darker zones, or experience elevation changes.

Adaptive cruise control is kind of like a combination of adaptive headlights and a collision sensor. This system allows drivers to employ cruise control without having to worry about following too closely behind cars in front of them. The system takes cues from traffic patterns to adjust the speed and eventually stopping the vehicle if traffic comes to a stop.

If you’re a parent of young kids, you likely have a baby monitor at home to keep track of your little ones as they play or rest in another room. The same concept is used for cabin cameras. Cabin cameras can be placed in the rear interior of the car so that mom and dad can quickly check-in as they’re driving.

With so many advancements in technology and safety testing, finding a vehicle that’s safe is easier than ever. Use this post to help you find the safety features you need in your next car.