Important Safety Features For Cars

According to a recent report issued by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FHSMV), there were approximately 341,399 car crashes in Florida in 2020 alone. Of those collisions, 127,705 involved an injury, while a further 12,452 resulted in an incapacitating injury. These statistics are troubling for anyone who spends any amount of time on the road. The good news is that every year, new safety technologies are developed that help make cars safer. Unfortunately, even newer and safer cars aren’t a guarantee that a person won’t be involved in an accident. For help establishing fault in your own car accident case, please reach out to our Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyers today.

Seat Belts

It’s sometimes easy to overlook seat belts as a safety feature, as their use is so prevalent, having been legally mandated since the 1980’s, when it was discovered that they significantly reduce a person’s chances of sustaining an injury. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drivers and front seat passengers reduce their risk of sustaining a moderate to critical injury by 50 percent if they wear seat belts.

Airbags

Airbags are another type of vehicle occupant-restraint system that have become increasingly important safety features for motorists. These bags inflate extremely quickly, providing a cushioned barrier between motorists and the interior of the vehicle in the event of a collision. While vehicles were originally only manufactured with airbags in the dashboard, modern vehicles often contain up to ten airbag modules, some of which are mounted in the doors and the seats.

Anti-Lock Brakes

Unlike airbags and seat belts, which are internal safety features, anti-lock brakes are located on the outside of the car. These systems are made up of sensors that indicate when a vehicle’s wheels have locked up because of unsafe road conditions, like ice or snow. By automatically releasing the brake in these cases and applying it repeatedly, these systems help drivers avoid losing control of their vehicles.

Electronic Stability Control

Another brake-related system that keeps motorists safe is electronic stability control, which is a type of safety feature that recognizes and responds to a loss of steering control by automatically applying the brakes to individual wheels. In this way, a vehicle can counter a driver’s accidental over or understeering of the car.

Adaptive Headlights

Perhaps less well known than seat belts and airbags are adaptive headlights, which, unlike standard headlights, are not in a fixed position. Instead, adaptive headlights use sensors that allow them to swivel, based on which direction a vehicle is facing. While their impact on motorist safety may not be as substantial as that of seat belts and airbags, this technology has gone a long way in reducing the number of nighttime car accidents by limiting the blinding glare of headlights on oncoming drivers.

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While these safety features have reduced car accident injuries significantly in recent years, driving is still a risky endeavor. If you were hurt in a car crash because of someone else’s negligence, please call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 and set up a meeting with one of our dedicated car accident lawyers today.

Resource:

flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2020.pdf