Safety advances that save lives.
From designs and innovations that can help protect occupants in a crash to on-board technologies that help drivers avoid a crash, the automobile industry is constantly striving to improve motor vehicle and traffic safety.
The U.S. Department of Transportation released a report in 2015 calling innovations by car manufacturers a “revolution in safety.” Road safety is a shared responsibility between governments, industry, non–governmental organizations and road users. Focusing on behavioral issues is critical to enhancing road safety, including encouraging safety belt use, raising awareness of risks from distracted driving and preventing impaired driving. Working together with all stakeholders, the Auto Alliance is addressing the nation’s most pressing road safety concerns.
SAFETY INNOVATIONS
Auto Innovations Usher in a New Era in Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation has called innovations by car manufacturers a “revolution in safety.” This is the most innovative time in automotive history. As a result, today’s auto is more than just transportation, it’s the most sophisticated technology owned by most consumers. Every day, vehicles are getting more advanced with new safety enhancements.
SAFETY INNOVATIONS
Vehicle Age can Relate to Safety
A 2013 NHTSA study showed that drivers in vehicles 15 or more years old are at least 50 percent more likely to be fatally injured compared to a driver in a new vehicle.
Crash Avoidance
Today’s automobiles have a range of airbags – front, rear, side and even curtains – as well as a long list of safety enhancements, including structural reinforcements to the passenger compartments and advanced safety belts. These safety features have helped to greatly enhance occupant protection in the event of a crash and reduce the impact of crashes. The future of vehicle safety has expanded into technologies that not only mitigate crashes but help to prevent them.
Distracted Driving
For years, automakers have been working to reduce in-vehicle distractions. In fact, automakers worked with a wide range of experts to develop the first set of distraction guidelines in 2003: the Driver Focus Telematics (DF-T) Guidelines.
Download The DF-T Guidelines
Amendment #1: Applicability to Automated Driving Systems
Download Amendment #1
Distracted Driving
The Auto Alliance partnered with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) for an award winning, multi-media education effort. In schools, town hall meetings and in advertising outreach, the message is the same: Decide To Drive.
It included a lighthearted viral video series, called #NoSmallDistractions, to highlight the fact that everyday things can be distractions behind the wheel. The videos were also refined into Public Service Announcements and distributed to 1,300 television stations nationwide.
Recalls
