Stay Safe this Winter with the Latest Features from Mazda
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Winter weather poses additional risks to drivers. Reduced visibility and traction can create dangerous conditions. If you live somewhere that experiences ice, snow, and freezing rain, the risks are even greater. It’s important to practice additional safety, keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance, and stay alert all year long, but even more so during the winter. However, Mazda models offer an entire suite of driver assistance features, collision-resistant vehicle construction, and technologies that increase traction in adverse conditions. The Heritage Mazda Bel Air, Catonsville & Towson team is here to break down some of the best safety features from Mazda to protect you and your family when the roads get slippery this winter.
Premium Traction Technology
Slippery winter road conditions require extra care while driving, but Mazda models feature intelligent technology features to make it easier to navigate situations with reduced traction. Mazda’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is available on the CX-3, CX-30, CX-5, CX-9, and MAZDA3. This advanced system can send power to the wheels with the most traction. Standard features like 4-wheel ABS, electronic brake distribution, brake assist, and hill start assist all offer support without being invasive. The tire pressure monitoring system will alert you if one of your tires has low pressure, which can affect braking, handling, and traction. Traction Control utilizes the sensors and systems already equipped in the vehicle to reduce understeer or oversteer, both of which can result in an accident. All of these features are so responsive that drivers don’t even notice how much they contribute to the smooth handling and drive of Mazda models.
Active Safety Features
For 2021, Mazda i-ACTIVSENSE builds on previous generations with safety features that use radar and cameras to detect, warn, and even sometimes prevent collisions.
- Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW)1 – Using a radar system and camera mounted at the front of the vehicle, this feature can detect potential frontal collisions with vehicles or other obstacles and notify the driver to apply the brakes or evade the potential collision.
- Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)2 – By monitoring the markings, curbs, and road edges using the forward-facing camera, the Lane Departure Alert can notify you when you deviate from your lane. On vehicles equipped with Electronic Power Steering, it can even autonomously make steering adjustments when needed.
- High-Beam Control (HBC)3 – Never blind oncoming drivers again. Automatic High Beams can sense headlights from oncoming and preceding vehicles and switch between high and low beams when necessary.
- Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)4 – This system uses the same camera and radar system in the Pre-Collision System to maintain a pre-set distance between you and the car in front of you by automatically adjusting speed.
- Driver Attention Alert (DAA)5 – By monitoring your steering patterns, this feature can detect when you’re inattentive and suggest that you take a break.
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)6 – Using radar sensors mounted on the rear of the vehicle, the Blind Spot Monitoring system can detect cars in your blind spot. If a vehicle is detected by the system, it will illuminate an icon in the door mirror on the corresponding side to notify the driver.
Passive Safety Features
In addition to the driver assistance features available on most Mazda models, these passive safety features are quietly working behind the scenes and keeping you and your passengers safe. These features also inspire driving confidence that can help you tackle a variety of road conditions.
- Vehicle Stability Control – In instances of strong oversteer or understeer while cornering, Vehicle Stability Control helps to regain and maintain predictability.
- Traction Control – This feature keeps your drive wheels planted in the event of excessive throttle input on surfaces like ice, mud, and wet roads.
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) – ABS keeps your wheels from locking up when brakes are applied heavily, making sure your vehicle comes to a stop when you need it to.
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution – Working in conjunction with your vehicle’s Anti-Lock Brake System, EBD controls brake power distribution between front and rear wheels—as well as left and right—to ensure traction, braking, and cornering are always optimal.
- Brake Assist – During emergency braking, Brake Assist may step in to help drivers stop in time by adding additional brake force.
Prevention and Protection
Mazda has always been dedicated to protecting its customers, and thanks to some amazing advancements in safety technology, your Mazda isn’t just built for value and reliability. It’s also built to protect you, your family, other motorists, and pedestrians in revolutionary ways. For more information about Mazda’s innovations in safety technology or to see these features in action for yourself, contact the team at Heritage Mazda Bel Air, Catonsville & Towson today or visit our showroom at 1 Olympic Place Suite 1120, Towson, MD 21204.
1 FOW is designed to reduce the risk of accidents by warning the driver that there is a risk of a collision. However the system has its limitations, and no safety system or combination of such systems can prevent all accidents. These systems are not a replacement for safe and attentive driving. Please drive carefully at all times and do not rely on technology to prevent an accident. Not all of these systems are available on all models or in all markets, so please contact your local Mazda dealer for details on availability. Please refer to your owners' manual for additional important system details, limitations and warnings.
2 LDWS is designed to reduce the risk of accidents by warning the driver of unintentional lane departures. However the system has its limitations, and no safety system or combination of such systems can prevent all accidents. These systems are not a replacement for safe and attentive driving. Please drive carefully at all times and do not rely on technology to prevent an accident. Not all of these systems are available on all models or in all markets, so please contact your local Mazda dealer for details on availability. Please refer to your owners' manual for additional important system details, limitations and warnings.
3 HBC is designed to reduce the risk of accidents by providing a well-illuminated field of view. However the system has its limitations, and no safety system or combination of such systems can prevent all accidents. These systems are not a replacement for safe and attentive driving. Please drive carefully at all times and do not rely on technology to prevent an accident. Not all of these systems are available on all models or in all markets, so please contact your local Mazda dealer for details on availability. Please refer to your owners' manual for additional important system details, limitations and warnings.
4 MRCC is designed to reduce the risk of accidents by maintaining a safe following distance from the car in front. However the system has its limitations, and no safety system or combination of such systems can prevent all accidents. These systems are not a replacement for safe and attentive driving. Please drive carefully at all times and do not rely on technology to prevent an accident. Not all of these systems are available on all models or in all markets, so please contact your local Mazda dealer for details on availability. Please refer to your owners' manual for additional important system details, limitations and warnings.
5 DAA is designed to alleviate the burden of driving and reduce damage resulting from accidents and is predicated on the driver operating the vehicle in a safe manner. It is important to be aware of the limitations of the system and drive safely at all times.
6 Always check the surrounding area visually before making an actual lane change. The system is only designed to assist you in checking for vehicles at your rear when making a lane change. Due to certain limitations with the operation of this system, BSM warning light may not flash or it might be delayed even though a vehicle is in an adjacent driving lane. Always make it your responsibility as a driver to check the rear.
Image and Video Credit: Mazda