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Environmental Friendliness
Cars in the 1910's were not that environmentally friendly. They used Diesel fuel mostly, and most gasoline companies didn't know about regular fuel that we use today. Now, we have more eco-friendly cars, like electric cars. Cars get a lot better gas mileage than cars from the 1900's. -
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Speed limits
Speed limits have changed over all these 100 years becuase it was one of the biggest reasons for people crashing on highways. Also, the other reason I can think of is because of Tires and their tread, Tires cost a lot and going to fast on the highway got rid of the tread on tires. -
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Windshiled Improvement
Windshileds used to be non-mandatory in motor vehicles but they were made mandatory.
Early windshields were made of ordinary window glass, but that could lead to serious injuries in the event of a crash. But the problem with the windshields is that they could crack from a simple stone chip. In 1919, Henry Ford solved the problem of flying debris by using the new French technology of glass laminating. -
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Engines
Engines back in the 1910's and 1920's were notorious for having engine fires, from gas leaks and heat from the engine touching eachother, making fire in the engine. 1986 Pontiac Fiero's were very bad about this. Imagine having a fire... Now imagine having a fire in your car while your in it. That's what happened to people, and that's why they made our engines today like they are now. -
Headlights / Tail lights
Back in 1912, Cadillac introduced the front headlights. In 1915, the Guide Lamp Company introduced the "low beam" Headlights, but the 1917 Cadillac made a lever in the car to make it go to low beams. Now, we have automatic headlights and tail lights, which they didn't have until 1986, and they were used for braking systems. -
Brakes
Standard Drum Brakes were first invented by a man named Louis Renault in 1920. Brakes are used in cars for stopping at stops and stopping you from crashing. -
Automatic Windshield Wipers
Automatic windshield wipers were invented in 1921. Called "Folberths," after their inventors, Fred and Willaim Folberth, they were powered by an "air engine," a device connected by a tube to the inlet pipe of the car’s motor. -
Antilock Brakes
Antilock Brakes are a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.
The ABS was first developed for aircraft use in 1929 by a French automobile and aircraft pioneer, Gabriel Voisin. -
Heaters and A/C
Heaters and AC in cars from the 1940's were a luxury item, but they slowly became standard equipment to all cars. -
Steering
The way we steer now these days is not the same as it was 100 years ago. Back in those days, they had levers and pullys to operate, which caused more crashes and accidents. Now, we have steering wheels that steer the car for us instead of having all those Pullys and stuff to get to. -
Padded Dashboard
Padded Dashboards were invented in 1940 by Claire L. Straith. They are considered a Safety precaution because of the fact that hitting a steel dashboard when getting into a crash does not feel good. -
Seat Belts
Seat belts were added in all Tucker cars as standard equipment in 1948. Since Tucker Corporation only built 51 cars before folding they are not normally known as the first one to do so. In the 1950's Ford (and a few other manufacturers) offered seat belts as an option. Later, they were called as manditory for all vehicles in America. When you get in a crash with your seat belt on, the seat belt locks and keeps you in the car instead of you flying out of the front window. How great is that? -
Car structures
The 1960's were all about the safety of the car and it's occupents. The car's from the 60's and on were build so they would crumple in certian spots instead of blow up into pieces. When car's would get into crashes before the 60's, they would not crumple and people would get hurt while the car was folding into pieces. -
Air Bags
The airbag has made a significant contribution to reducing injury and death in crashes. It was originally developed by General Motors in the USA. In Australia, Holden was the first local maker to introduce a driver's airbag on the 1993 VR Commodore. -
Electronic Stability Control (ESP)
It can automatically sense a skid and take action to assist the driver. It does this by employing steering angle and sensors, in addition to the individual wheel sensors in the ABS system. -
Temporary Auto pilot
This is a comuterised system in a car that senses when the driver is falling asleep. If the driver falls asleep, the computer will take control of the wheel and either drive stright or pull over.
