Old VS New in safety!

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The safety concerns between old cars styles versus new

To start there are crumple zones, which are parts of a vehicle (front and rear) that are made to ‘crumple’ easily in an accident to protect the passengers. They absorb the energy from the crash to avoid injury to anyone in the car by keeping the cabin intact during a sudden halt. The crumple zones started around 1990 and are in all cars now. 

 

Older cars have larger body frames, that a lot of people think is safer, but without the crumple zones, the passengers are subject to more injury and crushing. It is hard to shake people’s views that larger isn’t always safer, but once you watch the crash tests, it’s hard to argue.

Then there are the seat belts, which is always an argument of whether they are safe or not. In the 1960’s (and earlier), cars didn’t have the 3 point seat belt like they do now. In 1970 they became more popular for safety. Modern day cars have a tension system that holds you tight in an accident or sudden stop, which helps keep the passengers in place.

It wasn’t until about the year 2000 that 3 point seat belts were put in for the center backseat passenger, passenger head restraints were always used and child seat anchors (a metal hook behind the seats on top and bottom instead of just using the seat belt).

Airbags weren’t found in most cars before 1990, but since 1999, all cars must have them. Back when airbags were a new thing, the cars usually only had one in the driver seat, but some car companies started offering passenger and side airbags as options before the law required it.

In modern day, cars have multiple airbags ranging from the standard driver’s airbag to curtain airbags for the backseat passengers. 

ABS (anti-lock braking system) lets the brakes keep traction on the road and preventing 'lock-up' while trying to come to a quick stop. This wasn’t all that popular until the 70’s, but wasn’t widely used until closer to the 80’s and 90’s. It allows the car to have a shorter stopping time in an emergency, while still maintaining control. This means you can control the car around other vehicles or people on the road instead of uncontrollably sliding around to a stop somewhere near the road or into other cars and people.

A few other safety updates since the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s:

• Collapsible steering columns to avoid further injury to the driver

• Break away motor mounts (which allows the engine to go forward in a crash instead of toward the passengers)
  
  
• Reinforced door sidebars & throughout the sides of the car (allow the doors to stay strong and intact during a side impact)
  
  
• Technology to aide drivers in alertness, cruise control, maintaining lanes, calling for help after an accident, back up sensors and cameras and traction control, etc.
  
  
• The 90’s brought both driver and passenger side mirrors and less rear wheel drive car
  
  
• Power steering, non collapsing roofs in a roll, fuel tanks inside the frame, tempered & laminated windshields (so the glass doesn't shatter all over you)
  

There are a few things that are less safe now that modern day cars have a strengthen body:

•   A pillars have become larger and hard to see around, making larger blind spots
  
  
•  Rear windshields have less visibility with the head restraints and larger seat belts
  
  
• The horsepower available in modern day cars is a lot more than it used to be, so it may be harder to react quickly in an emergency.
  
  
• Of course, the technology in the car: radios, speakers, GPS and voice systems, etc. It is a lot to deal with and not feel distracted while driving.
  
  
• The tires are larger now, which isn’t so bad if you aren’t near snow and rain

Vintage cars look better and have a better feel to them, but modern cars are significantly safer and smoother to drive. So, if you insist on driving your vintage car, try to do it in good weather for shorter periods of time.  

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