The evolution of safety over the last 30 years: a whole world that has improved

Today, when we get into the car, the first thing we do is put on our seatbelt. Then we make sure that everyone, including the rear-seat passengers, is wearing theirs. It is not only that there are heavy fines for those who fail to comply with the rule of always wearing it on and properly adjusted, but also that we are aware that at the slightest impact people will be thrown forward and can suffer, and even cause, serious injuries.

But this awareness of safety at the wheel has not always existed, and only a few years ago it was not so common to take these precautions when travelling by car. Those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s have memories that make the hair on our arms stand on end. We witnessed situations that were genuine risks to the safety of the car’s occupants, things we would never do now under any circumstances.

The seatbelt

Wearing the seatbelt was considered an optional item before the 90s. Putting on a seatbelt seemed like something for beginners and a source of mockery from more experienced drivers. If someone used a seatbelt while driving, they were labelled unfit to drive. If it was the passenger, the driver looked at them as if they did not trust them. To avoid the effects of an impact, the strength of one’s arms was enough to control the collision. And everyone knew it.

There was also the urban legend of a driver who burned to death in his car after a crash because the seatbelt buckle jammed and he could not get out in time. It was also believed that an impact with a seatbelt caused serious damage to the chest and abdomen. Imagining the consequences of that same impact without a seatbelt was, of course, not taken into account.

In the back, we even travelled lying down on the seats. And without a child safety seat, completely unprotected and with no chance of surviving any accident unharmed, however minor. A recklessness that today we would never allow our little ones.

Fortunately, with the arrival of the 90s many things changed: airbags became common and seatbelt use became widespread, dispelling these scary stories that discouraged its use.

The DIY mechanic at home

The last two decades have brought many innovations regarding road safety. Breakdowns in cars are nothing new. But the car’s mechanics have also changed a great deal in recent decades. From predominantly mechanical engines, we have moved to others in which electronics are a fundamental part of their make-up, so more specific tools are required. Before, any amateur could carry out work on the engine, even without the proper training.

Oil changes at home were much more common than they are now. And the used oil? It ended up in canisters, dumped anywhere it would not be a nuisance. Small DIY jobs carried out by amateur mechanics or without the right tools were quite common. The results were more serious faults that were harder to fix, since badly repaired faults cause further breakdowns.

Lights

Car lights have two very clear functions. The first is to let us be seen during hours without natural light. The second is to allow others to see us at times when visibility is nil or very low. In the 70s and 80s lights served these purposes, but technology has improved the functionality of these safety elements. Headlights have gained in brightness and range.

Traditional technology went through important advances, and we saw the arrival of xenon headlights, which provide a more efficient light beam. Then came the LED revolution and all the successive developments that followed these advances. Laser technology has also played a leading role in this progress and has come to improve the possibilities we have.

Daytime running lights, something relatively new in our country, also help improve the visibility of vehicles during daytime journeys, something that seemed like science fiction not so many years ago.

On top of all these technical advances, we must add all those driver assistance systems that have been incorporated into the equipment of new models. We are not close to autonomous driving, at least for the vast majority of drivers, but our cars now come with lane departure warnings, cameras to monitor the rear, and many other features that help improve our safety at the wheel.