According to Money magazine, these days the most sought-after options in a car aren’t DVD players or heated cup holders, they’re safety features. Here are a few that are definitely worth the cost, plus a few that are a little expensive but mighty impressive. Whether they’re standard features or on the options list, you probably want to consider some or all of these features when you buy your next car.

• Pre-Collision Systems
  Even before that first crunch of a fender-bender, the latest luxury models are trying to protect the people inside. Mercedes, which pioneered pre-collision technology in 2003, has enhanced it on the new 2007 S-Class. If radar sensors detect an impending collision, the vehicle will, in less than a second, shut the windows to support the curtain air bags, reposition seats for optimal crash performance, and retract seat belts to cinch occupants into place. Right now pre-collision systems are limited to luxury models, but as the technology becomes more common, expect mid-price models to begin offering similar systems.

• Active Braking
  Taking pre-collision systems a step further, the Acura RL uses the car’s radar "vision" to brake the car when it senses that you’re not doing the job. The technology is not perfect yet but it could make the difference between a minor fender-bender and an injury-producing accident. Here’s how it works: The car’s braking system will warn you if you are heading too quickly toward upcoming cars by flashing a huge brake-warning on the driver’s display and sounding a chime. If you don’t stop, the system will tug on your seat belt, then begin braking forcefully but smoothly, still giving plenty of time for a safe stop.

• Rear-View Monitor
  This may seem like an extravagance or technology for technology’s sake, but if you have a family with small active children or pets who run around your yard, backing up could possibly bring tragic results. Rear-view monitors go a long way toward boosting safety and confidence, especially for drivers who feel anxious backing up a minivan or SUV.

  The best system, from Nissan and Infiniti, superimposes a green-yellow-red grid over the screen view (red being the zone closest to your rear bumper), making it easy to judge distance and get within inches of the car or wall behind you. Not only does it keep you aware of what’s behind you, but it’ll keep you from ever scratching another bumper during a parking maneuver. At present, every monitor currently available is bundled into an optional navigation system package that could cost thousands dollars. So if you really want this safety feature, be prepared to pay for it.

• Electronic Stability Control
  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if moments before you hit a slick patch on the road, the technology in your car would sense it and make the proper mechanical adjustments to prevent any skidding? Well there is exactly such a thing and it’s called Electronic Stability Control. ESC technology uses existing anti-lock brakes plus motion sensors and software to recognize a skid before it even begins. Then it applies individual brakes and adjusts the throttle to restore control. Make no mistake about it: ESC works. Users report that countless times they’ve hit a slick patch or taken a racetrack turn a bit too fast and felt ESC instantly pop the car back on course, usually before they even knew something was amiss.

  If you’re shopping for an SUV, an ESC system is even more beneficial, since those vehicles have trickier emergency-handling characteristics and can have more of a tendency to roll over. Comparing models before and after ESC was installed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the technology reduced crashes by 35 percent in cars and by a stunning 67 percent in SUVs. As ESC has become widely adopted, prices have fallen. Where they’re still an option, most ESC systems now cost you $500 or less. It’s the best money you’ll ever spend on your car, especially if you regularly drive where road conditions are a factor.

• Side Air Bags
  Sure you’ve heard lots about these throughout the years. And sure today’s cars generally do a reasonably good job of protecting you in head-on collisions (at reasonable speeds) collisions, by impacts from the side are really the biggest safety issue for you to consider. After all, with only a thin door between you and an oncoming vehicle, this is where you need to focus your attention.

  The good news is that side air bags are becoming standard fare on even some budget cars (the Kia Rio at $11,000 to $14,000 is certainly worth checking out). The bad news is that still, surprisingly, they remain optional in far too many vehicles. And a distressingly low percentage of consumers choose to pay extra for additional air bags, although they typically run only $250 or $300 to the cost of a car-not much more than a set of floor mats. Do yourself and your family a favor next time you buy a new car: check off the option box for air bags without giving it a second thought.

• Winter Tires
  Alright. You’re thinking that this is a given and something as simple as tires shouldn’t even be included in this list. But here are the facts: winter tires are the best way to enhance driving safety on snow and ice and far too many people fail to remember that. A tire retailer (Tire Rack) recently ran its own test with two cars, one with its factory all-season tires, one with Bridgestone winter tires. When both came to a panic stop on ice from just 35 mph, the car with all-season tires took 70 feet longer to come to a halt! "All-seasons are designed to be good at everything, but they aren’t great at anything, especially winter driving," says Matt Edmonds, vice president of the Tire Rack.

  To keep things simple, you’ll want to buy an inexpensive set of wheels to mount the winter tires on instead of switching tires back and forth on your standard wheels. And always use winter tires in sets of four - using a single pair on the drive wheels can create unbalanced handling. Tires that meet the winter standard carry a symbol of a mountain peak with a snowflake. Figure around $100 per wheel and $100 per tire which could be a little costly for a set of four, but well worth it as soon as the ice starts forming.

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