New Car Safety Features Even Older Models Can Access Through the Aftermarket

February 9, 2020 – Please welcome Derek Eastwood with his first contribution to 21st Century Tech Blog. Derek is the Business Development Manager at Hussey Fraser Solicitors in Dublin, Ireland. He tells me that he likes to keep up to date with information relating to road safety and is sharing with us today a newly created infographic that describes technology add-ons to older cars to make them safer.

For ten years my wife and I drove a Mazda MPV, a minivan that in 2006 wowed us as state-of-the-art. But three years ago even though the vehicle was still in prime condition we decided to lease a Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid. I was gobsmacked by the changes that had occurred in a decade, particularly those related to vehicle safety. If I knew then that there was an aftermarket for my ten-year-old van, I might still be driving it today.

Enjoy Derek’s contribution and please, as always, join the conversation through your comments.

With many drivers choosing to hold onto their cars for longer, the average age of vehicles on the roads is increasing. This means that there are many ageing vehicles that lack the safety features available to newer models. As a result, there are billions of drivers around the world that are missing out on potentially life-saving technology. 

Should You Upgrade Your Car or Upgrade Your Tech? 

If you are concerned about the safety of your vehicle, then you can either purchase a newer one or upgrade the one you have with aftermarket add-ons. If your car is considered unsafe to drive, then upgrading to a newer model with essential safety features should be your only choice. But if the vehicle you own is still in good working order, the aftermarket for safety tech add-ons may be just for you.

The Benefits of Aftermarket Add-Ons

Recent innovations and decreasing prices are making the car safety aftermarket far more attractive for older vehicle owners. The majority of these add-ons are quite easy to install and fully compatible with smartphones. The added bonus of installing aftermarket safety options will help boost the resale value of the car should you decide to sell it. 

Maybe You Need A Software Update? 

Modern cars feature advanced computer systems that can be optimised through software updates. The updates are usually rolled out to tackle specific issues flagged by consumers, dealerships, or through manufacturers’ evaluations. If your car needs an update, then take it to a local mechanic for a tune-up. 

Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates provide a cheaper and easier alternative to manual updates. Much like phone updates, these allow car manufacturers to send updated code to all cars of a specific make through wireless delivery.

Currently, Tesla is the only manufacturer that provides OTA updates allowing for improvements to be made quickly and easily. This may change, however, in the near future as international regulators consider a revision to the rules governing software updates on vehicles. Industry experts expect these changes to be implemented by 2021. 

Learn More 

If you are thinking about upgrading the safety features of your car, then check out the accompanying informative infographic produced by Hussey Fraser. It lists the ten best aftermarket add-ons to enhance the safety of older vehicles including parking sensors, HUD displays and much more.