The History of Car Safety and Where it is Now

Car safety is making enormous strides in Australia, as road deaths reach the lowest point in five years.

Much of this success can be attributed to improved safety technology, and more of an awareness surrounding dangerous driving tactics.

As more safety features roll out each year, it’s interesting to look back at some of the ways auto manufacturers used to try to protect passengers, and how it has changed over time.

Bad Ideas Breed Good Ideas

Believe it or not, but there was a time when drivers could suspend their infant baby in a net from the roof of their car. They were called “baby hammocks”.

This was all done in the name of child safety, of course, but as more research was done it became apparent that this device was not in the best interest of the children.

All was not lost however, as the conversation about car safety grew, so did the technology and legislature behind it.

In fact, Victoria was the first place in the world to implement mandatory seatbelt laws. This “safety-first” mindset continues today, making Australia one of the safer places to drive in the world.

Finding Ways to Protect Yourself Today

While we’ve come a long way since the days of baby hammocks in cars, there are still plenty of dangers when getting behind the wheel.

In addition to ensuring the vehicle itself is protected, it’s important to do research into the car models that have the safest designs and features. Keeping a close eye on which cars make the news for poor safety ratings is a simple, yet effective way to avoid making the wrong vehicle purchase.

Implementing simple, common sense measures into the way you shop for and drive a car could end up saving your life.

As we all know, it is easy to get caught up in the chaos of daily life, and driving safely is often an afterthought. Changing that mindset can go a long way in how you operate your vehicle.

Don’t Wait Too Long

Technology and innovation has skyrocketed in the past few years, and the tech behind car safety is no different.

Holding on to your old, but reliable car from the early 2000s or 1990s only puts you at a higher risk of injury or death in the event of an accident.

If you have the money, it’s important to upgrade your car every five years or so, in order to take advantage of the improved safety features newer cars offer.

This is also important because new technology won’t just keep you safe in the event of a crash, but can also help you avoid them with collision avoidance and auto-braking features.

It’s nice to look back at what used to be considered appropriate car safety, and see that many ideas have been thrown out and replaced with better ones.

And as traffic deaths continue to decline, one can only hope that more effective safety technology will be developed.

However, that does not mean you shouldn’t do extensive research when searching for a safe, reliable vehicle, because as the old adage goes, “Those who do not know history, are doomed to repeat it.”