- Shatterproof glass:
Laminated safety glass was developed, which helped reduce the risk of injury from broken glass in car accidents.
- Four-wheel brakes:
Before the 1920s, many cars only had brakes on the rear wheels.
- Electric starters:
Before electric starters, cars had to be started by hand-cranking the engine, which was dangerous and required considerable strength.
1930s:
- Crumple zones:
Crumple zones were designed to absorb energy in a collision and reduce the impact on passengers.
- Seat belts:
The first seat belts were introduced in the 1930s, but they were not widely adopted until the 1950s.
- Rollover protection:
Some cars began to be equipped with rollover protection, which helped protect passengers in the event of a rollover accident.
1940s:
- Airbags:
The first airbags were developed in the 1940s, but they were not widely adopted until the 1980s.
- Child safety seats:
The first child safety seats were introduced in the 1940s, but they were not widely adopted until the 1960s.
1950s:
- Disc brakes:
Disc brakes were developed in the 1950s and were more effective at stopping a car than the drum brakes that were previously used.
- Collapsible steering columns:
Collapsible steering columns were designed to collapse in a collision and reduce the risk of injury to the driver.
1960s:
- Three-point seat belts:
Three-point seat belts, which were invented in the 1950s, became mandatory in most countries in the 1960s.
- Headrests:
Headrests became mandatory in most countries in the 1960s to help protect passengers from neck injuries in rear-end collisions.
- Side-impact protection:
Some cars began to be equipped with side-impact protection, which helped protect passengers in the event of a side-impact collision.
1970s:
- Electronic fuel injection:
Electronic fuel injection was introduced, which helped improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
- Anti-lock brakes (ABS):
Anti-lock brakes were developed in the 1970s and helped reduce the risk of skidding during braking.
- Daytime running lights (DRLs):
Daytime running lights became mandatory in most countries in the 1970s to help make cars more visible to other road users.
1980s:
- Airbags:
Airbags became mandatory in most countries in the 1980s and have saved countless lives.
- Child restraints:
Child restraints became mandatory in most countries in the 1980s to help protect young children from injury in car crashes.
1990s:
- Electronic stability control (ESC):
ESC was introduced in the 1990s and helped reduce the risk of skidding and rollovers.
- Traction control:
Traction control was introduced in the 1990s and helped improve traction in slippery conditions.
- Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS):
TPMS became mandatory in most countries in the 1990s and helped drivers keep their tires properly inflated, which improved safety and fuel efficiency.
2000s:
- Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS):
ADAS, such as lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control, became more common in the 2000s and helped improve safety by reducing the risk of accidents.
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB):
AEB automatically applies the brakes if it detects an imminent collision, helping to avoid or reduce the severity of accidents.
Car safety has improved significantly over the last 100 years due to technological advancements and increased awareness of safety issues. Cars today are much safer than they were in the past and continue to evolve to provide better protection for passengers and other road users.
