Automobile Safety Features

Every time you get out on the road, you’re putting yourself at risk. Obviously, you shouldn’t let this fact keep you from living your life, but you should exercise some caution when you drive. According to a report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 37,261 road fatalities in the United States in 2008, with an additional 3 million injuries in the same period. Because we use cars all the time, we tend to forget just how dangerous they are.

Safety Equipment

Automobile safety has come a long way since the three-point seat belt was designed in 1951. We live in a much safer world now. Gone are the heavy steel monstrosities of the 1950s and 1960s, replaced by a high-tech assortment of gadgets and design integrations meant to keep us alive in case of a violent accident. When you shop for a car, you should keep in mind safety features like:

• Seat belt. The gold standard of safety devices, the seat belt helps prevent thousands of deaths a year. One half of the automobile fatalities recorded every year could have been prevented had the victims been wearing safety belts. That’s how important these devices are.
• Airbags. The airbag has grown up a lot since it was introduced in the 1970s. They have become safer and more reliable, with some cars having elaborate side- and curtain-airbags to cushion passengers. Cars with the highest safety ratings tend to have a number of well-placed airbags.
• Crumple zone. Unlike the old Bel-Airs and Continentals of yesteryear – gorgeous hunks of steel and rubber – modern cars are designed to crumple and fold in order to protect their passengers. The crumple zone minimizes the force to the occupants and has been an integral safety development.

Contact Us

If you have been injured in an automobile accident, contact Orlando personal injury attorney Todd Miner by calling 407-420-4040.