PARENTS driving with babies and newborns have been warned to check for this hidden, life-saving feature in cars.
Safety is paramount while hitting the roads, but it becomes even more important while travelling with young children.
Richard Pohle – The TimesParents driving with babies on board have been warned to check for an imperative hidden feature[/caption]
GettyOften hidden in car seats, the Isofix points are the most secure way to mount a baby seat in cars[/caption]
Isofix mount is an imperative hidden feature every parent must look out for while buying new cars.
It is an international-standard attachment system built around rigid connection points to latch a child seat firmly onto the car’s seat, rather than using a seatbelt.
Isofix mounts use metal anchor points built into the chassis of the car to securely hold the child seat – making it the most secure way to travel in a car with a bay onboard.
And they’re designed to make installing a car seat much easier, which lowers the risk of getting it wrong.
Some car models have the Isofix mounts as a part of the seat itself, often hidden within the car’s seat padding.
But with other models, drivers would have to buy them separately and install them.
Types of ISOFIX car seat
Vehicle-Specific Approval – Only compatible with specific vehicles, using a two-point connection system.
Semi-Universal Approval – Only compatible with specific vehicles. Can be forward or rearward facing, featuring either a foot prop or top tether. It is not compatible with underfloor storage.
Universal Approval – Forward-facing Group 1 child car seats that fit into most newer cars, using a two-point connection system and a top tether.
Isofix mounts have now been made compulsory for all car manufacturers to have, with the number of Isofix seats fitted varying from car to car.
Meanwhile, Brits are just learning about another life-saving feature in cars that can prevent drivers from causing accidents.
Carmakers have now developed a new technology called drowsiness detector that can tell if a driver is feeling sleepy – and make them alert.
Called Attention Assist, the super clever technology uses a specially designed algorithm that is based on your driving patterns and techniques.
This is paired with a specialised sensor that detects driver fatigue and sends you a warning in your car if it senses an issue.
The feature is new to Mercedes-Benz motors and is thought to be the very first technology of its kind in the car industry.
Attention Assist has been designed to help prevent accidents caused by tired drivers in a very clever way.
Many other car companies such as Volvo and Nissan have their own technology commonly known as drowsiness detection.
Volvo uses a clever system that scans the driver’s eyes and head movements to determine their condition whereas other systems vibrate the steering wheel to alert the sleepy driver.
It is so important to be alert in the car as if not you could be slapped with an unlimited fine if you get behind the wheel while tired.
Other hidden features in cars
THESE are some of the most useful hidden features found in modern cars:
Conversation Mirror – convex mirrors attached overhead to give drivers a view of the rear seats.
Gas tank locator – an icon that pops up on the car’s dashboard to locate the gas tank.
Driver Assistance System – assist drivers with the safe operation of a vehicle through a human-machine interface.
Heads-up display – a transparent guidance system projecting all the vital driving information at the driver’s viewpoint.
Blind-spot monitoring – a system that notifies the driver if another vehicle appears within their blind spot, avoiding risk of a collision.
Tyre pressure monitors – a system fitted to a vehicle which constantly monitors the tyre pressures provides a warning incase of imbalance.