5 Mandatory Safety Features Saving Lives (and 3 Extras)

The next time you buckle up and lay back against the headrest, remember these two safety features haven't always been around. They were first launched in the 1950s as luxury accessories and were only made mandatory for new vehicles in the late 1960s.

We've come a long way since then, and every few years, legislators pass new laws to make cars and trucks safer than ever. Let's take a trip down memory lane to go over the latest mandatory vehicle safety feature additions — and to get a glimpse of luxury add-ons that could change the future of driving.

5 Safety Features Required By Law

Cars used to be incredibly dangerous. In 1913, 33 people diedMotor Vehicle Historical Fatality Trends Deaths And Rates Injuryfacts.nsc.org for every 10,000 vehicles on the road. Compare that to 2021, when only two people died for every 10,000 vehicles. Our roads are safer today in large part because of these five safety features.

1. Airbags

Airbags were made mandatory on all new vehicles in 1998. They've saved 50,457 livesApi Public ViewPublication 812691 Crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov in just 30 years by cushioning the impact (and severity) of a crash. But they're only effective if you follow airbag safety tipsTrending Important Tips About Airbag Safety Defensive Driving.

2. Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

All cars made after 2012 have ABS. This type of brake design prevents the wheels from locking, giving drivers better steering control in slippery conditions.

3. Tire Pressure Sensors

Mandatory since 2007, these sensors allow drivers to check tire pressureTrending How Check Tire Pressure Defensive Driving with ease — and make changes when needed. They improve fuel economy, extend tire life, and prevent tire blowoutsTrending How Avoid Tire Blowout And What Do If It Happens Defensive Driving.

4. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESCSafety Features Electronic Stability Control Mycardoeswhat.org uses sensors to prevent vehicles from skidding and spinning out of control. It's especially useful in rainy conditions when hydroplaningTrending What Hydroplaning And How Should You Handle It Defensive Driving is likely. All cars and trucks made after 2011 have it.

5. Backup Cameras

Backup cameras became a safety requirement in 2018. They're not just useful in helping drivers parallel parkHow To Parallel Park Driving Resources — they can also save lives! By improving visibility toward the back of the vehicle, drivers can see if there's an obstacle in their way. 

Small children are especially vulnerable since they're so hard to see without cameras. Before 2018, backover crashes killed more than 200 people05 02 Backup Cameras Now Required In New Cars In The Us.html 2018 — and injured over 12,000 people — annually.

3 New Safety Features Changing the Future of Driving

There's still a lot of work to do: 2022 was one of the deadliest years on American roads in modern times, with 42,795 deathsTraffic Crash Death Estimates 2022 Press Releases. Experts hope that these three safety features — which are only luxury add-ons right now — can prevent accidents and save lives.

1. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked the federal government to make AEB mandatory in 2023. It would dramatically reduce rear-end crashes and pedestrian collisions by making the vehicle brake by itself, without drivers having to intervene. According to experts, if all cars and trucks on the road today had AEB, 360 lives would be savedAutomatic Emergency Braking Proposed Rule Press Releases every year. 

2. Blind Spot Detection

SUVs and trucks get bigger every year, and so do the front blind zones. Drivers can't see anything in these spots while driving. That's dangerous when it comes to merging lanes (especially at high speeds) and for young children. Because of their short stature, they're difficult (if not impossible) to spot when they stand in front or to the side of large vehicles.

From 2016 to 2022, 744 children were killedUs News Americas Cars Trucks Are Getting Bigger Are Front Blind Zones Children Rcna52109 News in accidents involving wide blind spots. Those deaths could have been prevented with blind-spot sensors. Car manufacturers and legislators are pushing for loud, beeping blind spot detection systems to be required in all new vehicles.

3. Lane Departure Warning

Some newer vehicles alert drivers when they start straying from their lane. Lights flash and a beeping sound goes off until the driver corrects the steering wheel. This lane departure warning could prevent accidents due to drowsy drivingTrending Asleep Wheel Dangers Drowsy Driving Defensive Driving.

Secure the Ultimate Safety Feature, Defensive Driving

You should never only rely on your vehicle's safety systems. Until someone invents fool-proof self-driving cars, you're still in charge. Enrolling in a defensive driving course Defensive Drivingcould be just what you need to keep yourself (and other road users) safe.

You'll learn how to deal with aggressive drivers, inclement weather, and other unexpected scenarios on the road to avoid accidents. And since you can take classes from home at your own pace, your busy schedule won't stop you from becoming the most skilled, responsible driver you can be.