Modern safety technology in cars is as close to avoiding all accidents as we’ve ever come using featuers developed through autonomous vehicle research.

Regardless of how you feel about self-driving cars, the research going into developing vehicles that can drive without human intervention has given us modern advanced driver assistance systems. These systems are becoming standard parts of our cars, made to keep us safer than ever before. There was a time when seatbelts were brand new, and now they are the standard primary safety device in every vehicle.

Let’s look at the evolution of safety technology in modern cars.

Let’s Start at the Beginning

Why is Volvo touted as the safety champion in the automotive industry? It all began when Volvo was the first company to include seatbelts as a standard safety feature in 1959. This same decade, crumple zones were normalized, helping send the energy in a collision around the passengers through a vehicle’s frame to lessen the potential of injuries during a crash.

When were airbags added?

You might not realize it because airbags weren’t standardized until much later, but airbags became a revolutionary safety feature in 1952. It might seem odd that airbags came before seatbelts, but when you think about the restrictive nature of seatbelts versus the passive nature of airbags, it makes sense. Since these early days, we’ve learned that seatbelts are necessary to act as the primary safety device, securing occupants in the seat to allow the airbags and crumple zones to dissipate energy to help reduce the risk of injuries.

ABS Came With a Name You’ve Forgotten

Have you ever heard of the 1966 Jensen FF? Most readers likely have not heard of this vehicle, but it was the first to feature an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), providing control for drivers while braking. Prior to ABS becoming standard in nearly all vehicles, drivers were taught to pump the brakes when in an emergency to alternate between braking and control quickly. ABS changed this with the desired control while slowing a vehicle to an eventual stop. Although most don’t remember the first vehicle with ABS, its become a standard item in modern cars.

Computerization Began to Make Cars Safer

As onboard computers were added to modern cars, safety technology evolved to help ensure better speed control and prevent the loss of control. Mercedes-Benz added Electronic Stability Control in the S-Class in 1995, which regulates the speed and brakes of the vehicle through an onboard computer. This system prevents the vehicle from veering out of control. Eventually, the same software programming used for ESC was also applied to a Traction Control System to ensure a vehicle maintained some control on slippery roads.

Along Came Cameras, Sensors, and More Computers

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) use several cameras and sensors to ensure a vehicle stays in its lane, remains at a safe distance from the cars in front, and alerts the driver of potential problems. Whether it’s alerts while in Reverse gear because the sensors indicate an obstacle is entering the path (Rear Cross-Traffic Detection) or the same sensors indicate that the vehicle is drifting toward the lane line (Lane-Keep Assistance). The ADAS system in most modern cars is an advanced safety technology that works on the first level of autonomous driving.

Government Agencies Increase Safety Standards

As various safety features and systems have become part of our vehicles, various government safety agencies have increased the standards and testing of these systems and various vehicles. The NHTSA and IIHS continually increase requirements for vehicles to reach the highest levels of safety standards, which lowers the likelihood of crashes on the roadways.

Self-Driving Vehicles Might Be the Future

Although opinions vary regarding whether or not self-driving cars are the future of the automotive world, technology is working in that direction. Some automakers realize they’ve pushed some features too fast, Tesla’s Autopilot system is one such program, and have to dial things back, while others take a more calculated approach. Its pretty easy to understand that human error is the cause of most accidents, but there are many reports of accidents occurring while the self-driving features are controlling the vehicle.

Modern cars have advanced safety technology to avoid crashes, which protects passengers better than crumple zones, airbags, and seatbelts. Still, vehicular accidents occur daily, and these safety systems reduce the risk of injury when these crashes occur. What’s next in terms of safety in the automotive industry?