There is no doubt about it – modern cars are safe. A new motor will include everything from airbags and seatbelts to a hill-assisted starting system. And, that’s without mentioning the AEB software or the traction control feature for bad weather. In the past, vehicles were lucky to have safety belts, and even then you didn’t have to wear them legally.
So, it begs the question, why has everything changed?
It’s not as if there has been a slight shift in the culture; new cars are safety-conscious before being fast or agile or even cheap. Below are some of the reasons it has become a major selling point for manufacturers.
Where There’s A Blame
Turn on the radio and wait five minutes; you’ll hear a compensation advert. The fact is that people are more inclined to sue than ever before. Thanks to no win, no fee lawyers, it doesn’t cost a penny to try to secure compo after an accident. And, specialists in the area are very good at getting results to ensure they get their pound of flesh. Sometimes, these cases can shine a light on the manufacturers and their lack of attention to detail. Think about the times when models have been recalled because of braking issues. Ensuring their products are as safe as ever prevents lawsuits.
Supply And Demand
Car suppliers wouldn’t sell products without interest from buyers, and there is a lot of it nowadays. After all, it’s never been easier to rent or own a vehicle even if you haven’t got the cash. A finance option will take care of that no questions asked. The things buyers want now are comprehensive safety features. Nearly 70% of cars sold in the UK have some type of crash-mitigating features. For instance, it may be an AEB or a collision warning system. These figures show very clearly that motorists want this technology when they are behind the wheel.
Chassis Of Steel
Of all the advancements in safety in the past ten years, it is steel which has had a major impact. Nowadays, the compressed version of the metal can take up to 1,500 megapascals of weight. To put this into perspective, this is about 200,000 pounds of pressure on an inch-wide strip of steel. Along with new materials such as aluminium and carbon fibre, chassis’ can now bear the brunt of a big load while absorbing the impact. As a result, crashes aren’t as fatal as in the past. Usually, they end up being classed as a scratch or a scrape.
Phase-In, Phase-Out
Such has been the jump in technology that there is a new model released every couple of months. The impact this has had on the used car industry is massive. Nowadays, there are affordable motors which are barely four or five years old. Not only are they built to last so they won’t break down anytime soon, but they have the latest gadgets. What this means is that drivers are buying better quality cars even if they are second-hand versions.
What do you think makes cars safer now than in the past?
