Car safety progress: From crash dummies to automatic braking in 2025

July 14, 2025 – Each summer, millions of Americans hit the road, making July and August the peak months for U.S. driving according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But behind the wheel, today’s drivers benefit from over a century of safety innovations that have dramatically reduced fatalities. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled has fallen from 3.35 in 1975 to 1.19 in 2024 – a 64% drop – even as the U.S. population grew by 60% to 338 million.

The humble beginnings of crash testing

The story of modern car safety starts with the crash test dummy. Developed in the 1940s for the U.S. Air Force to test aircraft ejection seats, the first dummy built specifically for automotive testing debuted in 1968. Samuel Alderson’s company created the “VIP” – short for “vehicular impact personnel.” Alderson was inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame in 2013, and his legacy lives on in every crash test performed today.

“You can learn a lot from a dummy”

That famous tagline launched NHTSA’s iconic seat belt campaign in 1985, starring Vince and Larry, the crash test dummies. Their humorous TV, print, and radio ads urged Americans to buckle up. The duo became so influential that they now reside in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History, displayed alongside authentic crash test dummies in an exhibit on automobile safety evolution.

Airbag recall – still a problem in 2025

The Takata airbag recall, which began in 2014, remains one of the largest safety recalls in U.S. history. Long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause these inflators to explode when deployed, leading to injuries and deaths. As of 2024, Carfax data indicated more than 6 million vehicles still had unfixed recalls. By mid-2025, NHTSA reports that roughly 4.8 million vehicles still need repairs. Owners can check their vehicles for open recalls on NHTSA’s website.

A century of milestones: how safety features evolved

The timeline of car safety is a story of steady, incremental improvement. Here are the key turning points:

• 1885 – Karl Benz invents the first automobile.
• 1889 – First electric headlamp appears on a Columbia electric car.
• 1901 – Oldsmobile introduces the first speedometer.
• 1914 – First traffic signal installed in Cleveland.
• 1930 – Laminated safety glass becomes standard on Ford vehicles to prevent windshield shattering.
• 1930s – The earliest “check engine” light, called an “idiot light,” appears on Hudson cars; it became standard only in 1996.
• 1934 – General Motors conducts the first vehicle crash test in Milford, Michigan. The same year, the first driver’s education program in the U.S. launches at a high school in State College, Pennsylvania.
• 1939 – Buick replaces hand signals with electric turn signals; first legislation defining drunk driving passed.
• 1949 – Chrysler Imperial offers four-wheel disc brakes as standard.
• 1951 – Mercedes-Benz patents the first crumple zone concept.
• 1958 – Electronic cruise control (“auto-pilot”) debuts on Chrysler Imperial.
• 1959 – Volvo introduces the modern three-point seat belt (lap and shoulder restraint).
• 1962 – First children’s car seats with safety features appear; NHTSA sets a standard by 1971.
• 1966 – National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act signed into law.
• 1968 – U.S. law requires two-point lap seat belts in front seats of all new cars.
• 1969 – Head restraints become mandatory on all new vehicles.
• 1971 – Chrysler Imperial is first with standard anti-lock braking system (ABS).
• 1973 – GM introduces first commercially available air bags in Chevrolet Impala.
• 1974 – U.S. mandates a belt-interlock system (must fasten belt to start engine); later repealed.
• 1981 – Mercedes-Benz introduces seat belt pretensioners (tighten on hard braking or collision).
• 1985 – Law requires a third brake light (center high mount); Vince and Larry PSA debuts.
• 1987 – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) invented by BMW, Bosch, and Mercedes.
• 1989 – Chrysler becomes first U.S. automaker to include air bags as standard in all vehicles.
• 1990 – Passive restraints (air bags, pretensioners) required by law.
• 1991 – GM introduces tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS); Volvo introduces side impact protection.
• 1992 – Nissan’s Traffic Eye – first production forward collision warning system.
• 1994 – Volvo improves side impact protection with side air bags.
• 1995 – Mitsubishi Diamante launches laser-based adaptive cruise control.
• 1996 – National air bag and seat belt safety campaign launched by multiple organizations.
• 2001 – Nissan introduces Lane Departure Warning and first optional backup camera (Infiniti).
• 2003 – Toyota Harrier comes with pre-crash mitigation system.
• 2005 – NHTSA finalizes rule requiring tire pressure monitoring systems in new vehicles.
• 2006 – Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) introduced.
• 2007 – Volvo introduces blind spot information system and drowsiness alert (Driver Alert Control).
• 2009 – Volvo introduces Emergency Brake Assist.
• 2014 – NHTSA issues advance notice for vehicle-to-vehicle communication rulemaking.
• 2016 – Automakers representing 99% of U.S. sales agree to make AEB standard by 2022; NHTSA publishes Federal Automated Vehicles Policy.
• 2018 – Backup cameras become standard in all new vehicles.

What’s new in 2025? Automated safety and driver assistance

While the historical milestones are impressive, the pace of innovation has accelerated. In 2025, nearly all new cars sold in the U.S. come standard with Automatic Emergency Braking, thanks to the 2016 voluntary agreement. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring are now common even on entry-level models. NHTSA continues to push for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, which could allow cars to “talk” to each other to prevent collisions – a technology still in the rulemaking phase.

Fatality rates – progress but still work to do

The numbers tell a clear story of improvement. In 1975, there were 44,525 traffic fatalities, a rate of 3.35 per 100 million miles. By 2024, fatalities dropped to 39,254, despite far more vehicles on the road. Injury crashes have also fallen from 169 per 100 million miles in 1988 to 75 per 100 million in 2022 – a 56% decline. However, with over 39,000 deaths still occurring annually, safety advocates emphasize that more work remains, especially in addressing distracted driving and impaired driving.

How to check for recalls

Drivers should regularly check for open recalls on their vehicles, tires, child seats, and equipment. NHTSA’s website offers a free search tool (search “check for recalls”). With millions of Takata inflators still unrepaired, staying informed is a simple but critical safety step.

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, University of Iowa, National Safety Council, Carfax.