Why Modern Cars Are Safer Than Vintage Ones

The safety standards of vehicles have drastically changed over the years. For some, there is a misconception that an older car is somehow studier than a newer one, which is why many parents may try to shop for a used car for their teens. However, this is far from the truth.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), modern cars are much safer, notably, since the implementation of seat belts, airbags, and crash avoidance technology has considerably improved the chances of a driver surviving a car crash. They also found in their research that the highest percentage of people killed in crashes were in cars from 1984 and older.

Here are some elements of newer cars that make them generally safer to drive than older ones.

New Car Safety Equipment

Seat Belts

Decades ago, most of today’s standard equipment wouldn’t even be an option. If you’re old enough, you might remember that older cars didn’t even have seat belts. If they did have one, they went over the lap. 

Nowadays, the three-power seat belt is standard in all vehicles, as it keeps the laps and shoulders of occupants safely glued to their seats. Because of this restraint system, hundreds to thousands of lives have been saved.

Airbags

First invented in the 1950s, airbags have come a long way. While they are responsible for saving lives, they needed quite a bit of tinkering so the airbag itself didn’t injure or kill occupants from its deployment, particularly women and children. The placement of this device has also been changed to protect occupants from injury better.

Since its wide adoption in 1987, airbags have saved over 50,000 lives. Many automakers even offer side airbags as a standard or optional feature.

Backup Camera

A backup camera or rearview video system prevents crashes by showing objects or pedestrians directly behind one’s vehicle. At first, the problem with backover crashes was considered a failure of the driver seeing directly behind them. Still, further research showed many crashes because a pedestrian came into the car’s path from the side. Since May 2018, rearview camera systems have been a required safety component on all new vehicles.

Blind Spot Detection

Lastly, the blind spot detection system was created to respond to crashes where drivers could not see what was next to them or due to their blind spots. This system typically uses digital cameras or sensors to track if a vehicle is in the neighboring lane. The blind spot technology warns the driver to indicate the unsafety of merging or changing lanes. Now on many new vehicles, this system is offered as a standard or optional feature.

Driver’s Auto Mart

At Driver’s Auto Mart, we sell a wide variety of like-new vehicles with several updated in-car safety features like those discussed. Check out our online pre-owned inventory to see all that we have to offer. Once you find something that suits your needs, feel free to chat with one of our representatives for more information and assistance.

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