The Evolution of Car Safety Through the Years

 
Even though the motor vehicle was invented a long time ago, car safety wasn’t taken seriously until many years (and accidents) later. It wasn’t until people realized that car crashes could cause serious injury that safety became a priority.
 
Making vehicles safe not only prevents injury, but it also prevents litigation. AsHaug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC explains, sometimes a person’s car insurance policy isn’t enough to cover damages, and the injured party must sue. The damages awarded in car accident cases can be quite high, with the losing party being required to pay for all legal expenses, includinglegal research.
 
Although car accidents are still common, cars are surprisingly safer than they used to be less than 100 years ago. Here’s a brief history on the evolution of motor vehicle safety in the United States.
 
Wiper blades came before seat belts
 
It may sound strange to consider wiper blades part of car safety, but they’re one of the most important safety features on a car. It’s impossible to drive safely in the rain without being able to clear the windshield. Rain drops gather fast, even when it’s just a light mist, and block a driver’s view of the road.
 
Rear-view mirrors came from horses and buggies
 
One of the most interesting things is that rear-view mirrors originated from the horse and buggie. Of course, it makes sense that they would be transferred to cars since it’s crucial to be able to see behind you at higher speeds. The first rear-view mirror made its debut at the 1911 Indianapolis 500.
 
Windshields made of safety glass
 
Today’s windshields are made from safety glass, which can crack, but it takes a lot of force compared to the original glass windshields. Safety glass is also less likely to shatter upon impact. In 1927, manufacturers started making car windshields with laminated glass to prevent shattering.
 
Airbags
 
Airbags are a cool safety feature introduced in 1951, and according to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), they’vesaved more than 50,000 lives to-date.
 
The first airbag could either be manually deployed by the driver, or deployed when something came into contact with the bumper. It took more than 40 years for airbags to become a standard feature for all motor vehicles. By 1999, all cars came equipped with airbags. Today, they’re connected to complex sensors that can discern when deployment is necessary.
 
In 1994, Volvo introduced side impact airbags to protect against injury from side collisions. In 1996, Kia and Mercedes-Benz added knee airbags to some of their models.
 
Seatbelts
 
The first seatbelt was just a simple lap belt, and in 1959, a Volvo employee named Nils Bohlininvented the 3-point seatbelt we have today. It was a simple improvement that has saved many thousands of lives.
 
Side marker lights
 
In addition to the original headlights, parking lights, tail lights, and brake lights, lights were placed on the sides of vehicles as a mandatory standard feature in 1968. This feature helps other drivers on the road know when a car is turning if they aren’t positioned directly behind them.
 
Electronic stability control
 
Two top names in the industry – Bosch and Mercedes-Benz – developed electronic stability control. This feature plays a crucial role in preventing rollovers and spinouts.
 
Audible warnings
 
There are many different audible warnings that have been added to various vehicles over the years. In 2000, technology was added to cars that provided an audible or vibratory warning when another car was in the vehicle’s blind spot. Not long after that, cars came equipped with a lane departure warning to alert drivers if they were acidentally crossing over into another lane.
 
Automatic braking
 
Long before autonomous vehicles existed, some cars came with automatic braking that used cameras and sensors to apply the brakes to prevent collisions if the driver was approaching too fast.
 
Anti-skid assistance
 
To help people drive in snowy and icy conditions a little better, anti-skid assistance was introduced. It doesn’t make it easier to drive in slippery conditions, but it does redistribute power and braking to other areas of the car to help prevent loss of control.
 
Backup cameras
 
It’s hard to find a car today that doesn’t have a backup camera. That wasn’t the case before 2018, when they became a standard feature. Now you know why so many people can easily parallel park these days.
 
Car safety is always being improved
 
These are just some of the advancements in vehicle safety over the years. Although technology is always improving, the best way to avoid accidents is by observing traffic laws and being a skilled driver.