Active and Passive Safety

• There are two kinds of automotive safety measures: active and passive. Active safety devices help the driver avoid crashes; passive safety protects the occupants of a vehicle if a crash occurs. Since the 1970s, attention has also been paid to designing cars that are safer for pedestrians if they are involved in an accident.
  
  

History

• Acceptance of safety concerns by manufacturers has been a long and gradual process. Ralph Nader's expose of the American automobile industry, "Unsafe at Any Speed," was a significant event as it inspired legislation that forced car companies to adhere to a set of safety standards. The first airbags were produced in 1974 and anti-lock brakes appeared in the 1980s.
  
  

The Future

• Computerization has enabled a variety of sophisticated measures designed to prevent accidents and protect a car's occupants. These include systems that warn of collisions and automatically prevent them, night vision, improved car stability control, and curtain airbags. Unfortunately, the most advanced technology is still expensive, but even today's cheaper cars are equipped with airbags and anti-lock brakes.