In addition to the brawny engines and powerful towing and hauling capabilities of the Ram 1500, this truck stand outs when it comes to driver safety. The Ram 1500 secured a spot as a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2019, 2020, and 2021—it’s the only pickup truck to have achieved this distinction for three consecutive years! Here are some of the reasons why this truck scores so high on the safety scale.
Braking Features
Given that there are more than 100 individual safety features built into this pickup, including a high-strength steel frame and air bags throughout the cab, we can only touch on some of the most important features in this article. Braking assistance is at the top of the list, since it can help you avoid accidents and stay safe.
The Ram 1500 is fitted with 14.9-inch standard brakes, the largest in its class. These brakes are well equipped to bring you to a complete stop, even when you’re hauling heavy loads in your cargo bed or pulling a trailer.
The forward collision warning system provides audio and visual warnings if a vehicle or other object is ahead of you and your approach speed is too fast. If you don’t respond, the system will give harsher warning by “stabbing” the brakes. If you still fail to respond, the brakes will be automatically applied to bring you to a rapid and safe stop.
Highway Safety
When you take to the highway, the Ram 1500 has technology to maintain a safe distance between you and other vehicles and stay in the proper lane. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go will alter your speed so you don’t get too close to the vehicle in front of you, and if traffic unexpectedly slows down, the cruise control system will automatically apply the brakes.
The Ram’s LaneSense® Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist system senses lane markings so you don’t inadvertently drift into another lane. If it detects that you’re creeping over the lane markings on either side, it will carefully steer you back into the center of your lane.
Parking Assistance
The Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist system is available for the Ram 1500. This guidance system helps you maneuver your truck into the tightest of spots by taking control of steering and allowing you to concentrate on the accelerator, gears, and when to apply your brakes.
The Ram also features a 360-degree surround-view camera, which shows you the view from all sides of your vehicle. It then pieces the views together and displays a contiguous overhead view on your infotainment screen so you can see all obstacles and how much space you have while maneuvering into position. In addition to parking assistance, this surround-view camera also helps when you’re unloading cargo or hooking up a trailer.
Trailering Safety
If you use your Ram as a work truck or need to tow a trailer for recreational purposes, you’ll be glad to know there are several trailering assistance features. Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path and Trailer Detection alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot, and it can even inform you if the vehicle activates its turn signal. This monitoring system can automatically include your trailer in its calculations and adapt the size of the blind spot as necessary.
Electronic Stability Control helps control your engine and brakes when you’re towing a trailer to ensure a safe ride. Electronic Roll Mitigation helps keep your truck centered, while Hill Start Assist will apply the brakes for you if you’re trying to start your engine on a steep slope with a trailer in tow.
Ram Trims and Safety Features
The 2021 Ram 1500 is sold in eight trims. Many of the trims have different standard and available safety features you should take note of.
The base Tradesman trim features a rearview camera as standard to help with parking. For an additional $595, you can add the Level 1 Safety Group package, which includes Lane Keep Assist and pedestrian detection. Pedestrian detection spots people on the road ahead and can apply the brakes to prevent a collision.
In the Laramie trim, you can opt for the Advanced Safety Group package for an additional $1,695. It gives you the Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist system, adaptive cruise control, and Lane Keep Assist. This package is also available in the Rebel® trim.
In the Limited LonghornTM trim, you get front and rear parking sensors as standard. You can also opt for blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alerts if you upgrade to the Level 1 Equipment Group package, which includes some luxury interior features for the cabin. The Level 1 Safety Group package option is also available in this trim.
The Limited trim features blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert as standard. If you choose the Level 1 Equipment Group package, you’ll get adaptive cruise control, parallel and perpendicular park assistance, Lane Keep Assist, and the surround-view parking camera.
The range-topping TRX offers many of these safety features as part of its Level 2 Equipment Group package, which costs an additional $7,920. This includes blind spot monitoring and the surround-view parking camera.
Now that you know a little more about the Ram 1500’s safety features, you can see you don’t need to miss out on advanced assistance and technology if you’re in the market for a powerful pickup. If you still have questions about any of the Ram’s safety features, we’d love to help give you an answer. Contact our expert auto team here at Huffines CJDR Lewisville. We serve the Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton and Carrollton areas, and we’ll do our best to help.
Alternatively, if you’re ready to get started with the purchasing process, why not browse through our online inventory or drop by our showroom to check out a Ram 1500 in person? Once you find one you like, you can schedule a test drive to see for yourself what this impressive pickup truck is capable of.
Image via RamTrucks.com