What Technology Do You Have to Thank for Your Safety in a Car Crash?
If a drive during rush hour didn’t clue you in, we are far from becoming better drivers. From distractions to aggressive driving, a busy highway is like navigating a sea of fast, heavy danger. Despite all of this, however, our roads are getting safer. Did you just roll your eyes in indignant doubt? We did, too—until we saw why.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released data on the role that vehicle safety technology—things like seat belts, airbags, and braking systems—plays in the safety of our cars and roads. A steady downturn in fatal accidents is thanks to the highly-increased safety of cars available today compared to even a decade ago, and certain features have contributed greatly to the accident survivability that we enjoy today.
Tough Federal Standards Have Driven Safety Innovation
NHTSA boasts that over 600,000 lives have been saved from 1960-2012 by ever-improving safety technology. Federal standards for motor vehicle safety have pushed the envelope for manufacturers to provide the best in safety for consumers, and NHTSA credits several innovations, now common in even base model cars, with saving lives since 1960:
- Seatbelts have saved nearly 330,000 lives
- Frontal airbags have saved almost 43,000 lives
- Side airbags and other side-impact protection saved over 32,000 lives
- Energy-absorbing steering assemblies save an impressive 80,000 lives
Other technologies credited in the report are child restraint systems, Electronic Stability Control, rollover curtains, roof crush resistance, and fuel system integrity.
While we rarely recognize the significance of this technology unless we are in a crash, its presence has made our roads safer and will continue to do so. Of course, the best defense is to commit to defensive, focused driving.
No matter how skilled you are behind the wheel or how safe your vehicle may be, you can still suffer serious injuries at the hands of negligent drivers. If you have been hurt in a crash, you deserve compensation for your damages, and our law firm can help you—contact us today to schedule your free consultation.