Car safety in India has improved a lot. Thanks to institutions like Global NCAP, car safety tech has grown fast, and carmakers have emphasized it more over the past few years. We now have better airbags, brakes, and smart safety tools. But it wasn’t always like this. Learn more about how safety in cars has gone from basic ideas to the smarter and better technology we have now: 

Car Safety Features

Car safety has come a long way to cut crashes and protect lives on the road. Here, we look at how these car safety features grew and turned into the must-have tech we use now.

Early Years – 1950s

In the 1950s, there was very little focus on safety. Cars were built to look stylish and emphasised comfort (however, to be fair, the average speeds on the road were much lower than they are now). In fact, cars back then were made with stiff materials that were dangerous in crashes.

In the late 1950s the automotive industry got its first big step in safety: the 3-point seatbelt. In 1959, an engineer at Volvo called Nils Bohlin created the three-point seatbelt which became the standard for all cars later. In India, it took a bit longer for seatbelts to catch on. The 1950s was just the stepping stone for carmakers to catch on global safety trends.

1960’s – 1970’s

In India, during the 1960s and 1970s, car safety was still new. Cars were getting easier to buy, but making them safe was not the focus. These decades were key years for car safety around the world, and India took small but key steps too. Cars in India were still a luxury, with the Hindustan Ambassador and Premier Padmini being the main models on sale. At that time, people started to notice the need for safety features.

While crash tests were rare in India then, global progress later shaped how Indian cars were made. A big safety change during this time was the use of layered windshields. They had two glass layers with plastic in the middle, which helped stop the glass from breaking into small pieces in a crash. These windshields first showed up in other countries but later came to Indian cars, giving better safety during accidents. Car headrests were also added then, made to stop neck injury in rear hits. But in India, these were seen as fancy extras, not must-haves for safety, so they were not used by everyone.

By the 1970s, governments around the world started to see why seatbelt rules mattered. India was a bit late to push these laws, but early steps toward safety grew. This time showed a slow move toward making cars safer, setting the stage for tighter rules later.

1980’s – 1990’s

The 1980s and 1990s brought big steps in car safety worldwide. New ideas like airbags, ABS, and ESC became key features. In India, cars were changing too, with Maruti Suzuki starting in the 1980s and leading to new trends. But using these safety features was slower there than in other places. Cost and lack of knowledge were the main reasons for this delay.

Airbags, became a big step for safety. In India, some high-end cars had airbags back then, but due to cost, most low-cost carmakers stuck to simple safety tools. It was only in the late 1990s that a few budget cars in India began to offer airbags, mostly as part of top variants.

The use of ABS was also a big step forward. Made to stop wheels from locking during hard stops and to help on slick roads, it first came out in the 1980s. But at that time, it was only found in imported cars or high-end models. Over time, it proved to stop crashes better, helping it gain trust and set the stage for rules later.

2000s

In the 2000s, the safety tech of fancy cars started showing up in mass market offerings. In the 1990s, these were only in high-end and foreign cars. 

Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and two airbags started showing up more in Indian cars in this decade. At first, they were in costly models like the Honda City and Toyota Corolla. Later, they came to mid-range cars like the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Verna. ABS made braking much better, while two airbags gave key safety in front hits. This was a big step in keeping riders safe.

Focus on child safety also rose during this time. Locks on back doors became common in most cars, stopping kids from opening doors by mistake while the car was moving. But better safety tools like ISOFIX mounts for car seats were not common yet, since few people knew much about them.

This spread of safety features from luxury cars to mass market cars marked a global trend to make cars safer for all. 

2010s

The 2010s saw big steps in car safety in India. New tech reached more cars, even low-cost ones. People wanted safer cars, and rules got tougher. So, makers started adding better safety tools in budget and mid-range cars too.

Airbags became common in many cars during this time. While two front airbags were already normal, side and curtain airbags were added for more safety in side crashes. Many mid-range cars, from brands like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata, started to include these better airbag systems, making cars much safer for people.

Parking sensors and rear cameras became common in many cars, making parking easier and safer. These features helped drivers stay clear of bumps in tight spots by giving sight and sound alerts for objects, cutting down the risk of small crashes.

The 2010s saw a big change in car safety in India. Better systems became easier to get, making driving safer and keeping people inside the cars more secure.

2020s

The 2020s brought new car safety features revolving around better AI and tech. Modern car safety in the 2020s sees Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as a big addition. ADAS has tools like auto brakes, smart cruise control, and lane help. These work to help drivers and cut crash risks. 

Using AI, they read data from cameras, radars, and sensors to watch and adapt to the road around. The ADAS system spots people and objects on the road and can hit the brakes or warn the driver to act quickly. Voice systems using AI are also getting better. Drivers can use simple words to control stuff on their infotainment system. Owners can check their car’s health and safety using phone apps nowadays. 

The Future Of Car Safety

The future of car safety looks better, but problems remain. New tools try to make driving safe, yet it will take time before cars avoid all crashes. Soon, cars may all have 360 cameras and LiDAR as standard in the coming decade. These features will help spot blind spots and nearby things, even in bad weather. AR dashboards are also a big change that is coming up. They show maps, warnings, and speed right on the car’s glass. Drivers stay aware without looking away. 

And now as we head to self-driving cars, the change feels thrilling but comes with risks. These cars can stop many crashes, but they can be hacked, fail to sense things, or face sudden moves by other drivers.

FAQ’S