History of car safety features

When you get behind the wheel of a modern car, you’re entering a space that has been shaped by generations of automotive engineers. You can almost date a vehicle by the safety features that are built in – a fascinating area for classic car lovers.

Let’s look at how car safety has evolved over time and what you can do to improve safety in your own classic car. Some safety modifications may even bring down the cost of your classic motor insurance.

The first automotive accidents

The first cars had barely any safety features at all. On their introduction, automobiles were seen as expensive toys rather than practical vehicles – it was hard enough to get the vehicle to move, without focusing on safety.

The first person to be killed by a car (depending on your definition of a car, this was a steam-powered carriage!) was Mary Ward, an Irish naturalist and astronomer who was holidaying at a castle near Dublin in 1869. She agreed to take a trip on her cousin’s steam carriage. As the vehicle turned a corner, Ward was jolted from the car and fell beneath one of the wheels, breaking her neck.

The first known death of a pedestrian in a car accident came in 1896. Bridget Driscoll was on a day trip to Crystal Palace in London at a time when cars were still a rarity on Britain’s roads. An imported Roger-Benz approached Driscoll at 4mph. The driver rang a bell and shouted ‘stand back!’ but Driscoll was so unused to seeing motor traffic that she hesitated and was hit, despite the car swerving to avoid her.

Car safety features: a timeline

Safety was not always the number one priority for car designers. Over time, safety regulations have been set out in legislation and consumer demand has led to safety features becoming a key selling point for many vehicles.

Classic cars are still riskier to drive than modern vehicles, but there are things you can do – like limiting your mileage – to make insurance for a classic car more affordable.

Let’s look at key dates in the evolution of car safety.

1903: The first patent for a windscreen wiper is filed by Mary Anderson of Alabama, USA.

1911: Rear view mirrors are used for the first time by Ray Harroun in the Indianapolis 500 race, driving a Marmon Wasp.

1914: The first turning indicators are invented, using a signalling arm on the rear fender.

1921: Car headrests are invented by Benjamin Katz although it takes decades for them to be included in car designs.

1921: Frederick Duesenberg uses hydraulic brakes in a road car for the first time.

1927: Windscreen lamination is used for the first time, preventing dangerous shards of glass from dispersing on impact.

1934: A 1929 Chevrolet undergoes the first crash test, allowing General Motors to test performance in a collision.

1939: Buick introduces indicator signals as standard on their vehicles.

1947: The Tucker Sedan features the first padded dashboard, to reduce impact in a head-on crash.

1949: The first crash test dummy, Sierra Sam, is created for use in aviation. It will be adapted for motor vehicle testing in the early 1950s.

1949: US car manufacturer Nash offers lap seat belts.

1951: The first vehicle airbags are developed, although they will not become a common feature until the 1990s.

1952: Mercedes-Benz engineer Bela Barenyi invented the crumple zone concept which absorbs impact in a crash.

1953: Jaguar and Dunlop develop more reliable caliper disc brakes, using them to win the 1953 24-Hour Le Mans.

1955: The Citroen DS is the first production car to feature disc brakes.

1959: Volvo introduces the first three-point safety belt, invented by Nils Bohlin.

1960: Volvo introduces a padded dashboard to help reduce facial and chest injuries in collisions.

1965: A new law requires all new cars to have seat belt anchor points in front seats.

1966: Jensen FF sells the first production car with anti-lock brakes, adapted from aviation technology.

1967: A new law requires all new cars to have seat belts in front seats.

1968: In the USA, a law requires steering columns to collapse in a crash to help reduce the risk of chest injuries, use side marker lights and have front seat shoulder belts.

1968: Volvo sells the first car with front seat head restraints, helping to protect occupants’ heads and necks in a collision.

1970: Australia becomes the first country in the world to make seat belts compulsory.

1978: Mercedes introduces an electronic anti-lock braking system to its S-Class Model.

1979: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the USA begins to carry out crash testing and publishes its results.

1981: Mercedes-Benz introduces the W 126-Series S-Class with driver’s airbag and belt tensioner.

1983: A new law makes it compulsory to use seat belts in the front seats of a car in the UK, 90% of drivers comply immediately.

1987: A new law requires all new cars to have rear seat belts fitted in the UK.

1991: A new law makes it compulsory to use seat belts in the back seats of a car in the UK.

1991: The Toyota Soarer features the first rear-view cameras in a production car.

1994: Volvo introduces side-impact airbags in its Volvo 850 model.

1995: Mercedes teams up with Bosch to introduce electronic stability control.

1996: The first knee-level airbag is featured in the Kia Sportage SUV (although the first car sold with the feature in the UK is the 2003 Toyota Avensis).

1996: The European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) is founded as a voluntary care safety performance programme.

1997: The first NCAP results are published, giving the Volvo S40 4 stars for Adult Occupant Protection.

1998: Saab introduces a more advanced active head restraint.

1999: Mercedes-Benz introduces adaptive cruise control on its S-Class and CL-Class.

2000: Iteris develops a Lane Departure Warning System for trucks driving within Europe, resulting in a sound and vibration warning when the vehicle leaves its lane.

2001: The Renault Laguna is the first vehicle to receive a 5-star NCAP rating.

2003: NCAP introduces a child safety rating system.

2004: Volvo introduces the first blind spot information system, using cameras and motion sensors to flag pedestrians, cyclists and cars in a vehicle blind spot.

2005: The Citroen C4, C5 and C6 feature a lane departure warning system.

2005: The Jaguar XK and Citroen C6 feature a pop-up bonnet to help protect pedestrians in a collision.

2008: Volvo introduces autonomous braking on its XC60 to help prevent collisions when an obstacle is detected.

2009: Google begins to test autonomous cars on roads.

2009: Citroen and Bosch introduce Smowmotion, a smart anti-skid system for use in snowy and icy weather.

2011: Volvo introduces a pedestrian detection system which can brake automatically if a pedestrian appears in front of the car and the driver does not respond in time.

2012: Volvo introduces the pedestrian airbag.

2015: Jaguar Land Rover reveals tech that will buzz car controls when a pedestrian or cyclist are near to a vehicle.

2020: Autonomous vehicles begin testing on UK roads.

Autonomous vehicles have been touted as a major advance in car safety, as they eliminate the possibility of human error; around 90% of all car accidents are caused by a driver.

Autonomous vehicles are under intense testing and development around the world, but we’re not yet at the stage where driverless vehicles are a common sight on UK streets.

Ensuring that these vehicles can manage the complexity of busy roads is far from easy.

What safety measures should you put in place if you own a classic car?

Part of the pleasure of owning a classic car is indulging in a bit of nostalgia about times gone by. However, while you might enjoy the aesthetics of another era, car safety is something that is definitely better in the present day. Vintage vehicles have a higher risk profile which may affect vintage vehicle insurance premiums.

Safety modifications can be controversial in the classic car world, with some arguing that vehicles should be preserved with their original features and engineering. Ultimately, it is for every owner to decide whether they want to make changes that could improve safety, even if this alters the vehicle forever.

A classic car will never match modern cars for safety, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do to reduce your risk while driving.

1. Update seat belts

Three-point seatbelts were only introduced in 1958, and they did not become compulsory in all car seats until 1991. If your classic was made before 1965 without seatbelts as standard, you are not required to fit them by law but it may make your classic car insurance more expensive if you don’t.

2. Improve the braking system

Modern disc brakes are much more effective than the older drum brakes. You won’t be able to tell the difference when looking at the vehicle exterior, but you will notice the difference when braking in wet or icy weather.

3. Install new headlights

They might look classic, but old-style headlight bulbs are nowhere near as strong as

Halogen or LED bulbs. Powerful lights will help you to see and be seen, making it less likely that you will be involved in a collision. It is possible to buy headlights that look like the originals but use modern lighting methods, for the best of both worlds.

4. Go for traction tyres

Modern tyres will help your car grip the road and manoeuvre safely. To fit new tyres you may need to modify the wheels, but this will pay off in improved safety.

5. Fit power steering

Classic cars take a lot more muscle power to steer than newer cars, especially at slower speeds. This may have a nostalgic charm for some but it also makes a classic car harder to control. Installing power steering could make your car a much more pleasurable drive, especially if you use it every day.

6. Ramp up security

An old-fashioned key might feel nice in your hand, but the locking and ignition systems that use them are easy for thieves to break. Update your locks and ignition to help protect your investment – this may even be required by the terms of your classic car insurance.

7. Airbags are not usually compatible with classic cars

In a modern car, airbags help to protect occupants in the event of a crash but older cars are not built for them and for the most part, it is inadvisable to try to fit them retrospectively. Airbags installed behind older car panels may not deploy on impact as intended.

8. Plan your drive carefully

There are some times when it is riskier to head out on the roads – peak traffic times, for example, or during inclement weather. Checking the forecast and planning a route helps you to enjoy your drive and cut down the risk of anything going wrong.

9. Maintain your vehicle well

Carrying out regular servicing and checks on your vehicle is an important way to pick up on any problems early. The sooner an issue is highlighted and rectified, the less likely a costly, inconvenient breakdown becomes.

How do safety modifications impact classic car insurance?

Before modifying your vehicle, always check the terms of your classic car insurance. As your insurance is based on the market value of your vehicle, any modifications that could increase the value may also push up your premiums.

For example, restoring a vehicle to its original colour with a respray is classed as a modification and it can increase your classic car insurance premiums considerably.

Some safety measures may bring down the cost of your premiums. For example, where a modification improves your ability to brake or steer your classic car effectively, your insurer may see this as reducing their risk and change the pricing of your policy accordingly.

It is important to always check with your insurer before proceeding with a classic car modification. Specialist insurers like Lancaster are familiar with the unique risks faced by classic cars and will do all they can to ensure you have the right level of cover.

Do you need classic car insurance you can rely on? Get in touch with Lancaster for a quote today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.