Top 5 Most Important Safety Features For Cars
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers | December 17, 2025 | Car Accidents
Modern cars are significantly safer than vehicles were in the past. Most people take many of these safety features for granted. However, at one point, cars didn’t even have doors or roofs. Even the most dangerous car on the road today is significantly safer than those early vehicles.
Ironically, the success of these safety features is so impressive that you might not even realize that you are taking advantage of them. However, the fact that drivers are less likely to suffer catastrophic injury or death in a car accident is largely because of these five safety features for cars.
1. Headlights
While every vehicle has headlights today, there was a time when cars had no way of lighting up the road at night. Early vehicles were designed similarly to stagecoaches, which used lanterns to light the way at night.
The advent of headlights made nighttime and poor-weather driving significantly safer. Many states have implemented laws that require drivers to turn on their headlights when it is raining, and most cars today are equipped with daytime running lamps. This is because headlights decrease car accidents, even when used during the day.
2. Signal Lights
Another type of light is equally important to preventing car accidents. These are so effective that, like headlights, they are mandated in all modern vehicles. Signal lights include brake lights and turn signals.
Being able to signal your intentions to those around you significantly decreases the likelihood that you will get into a right-of-way accident. Signaling before turning or changing lanes is mandatory in all states. Brake lights are directly connected to your brake pedal, so those following you have a warning when you are stopping.
3. Seat Belts
This is probably the first item most people think of when discussing car safety features. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 23,959 passengers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2023; 50% of those killed were not wearing seat belts. There is a reason that seat belt use is mandatory in most states in the U.S.
4. Windshield Wipers
Before the invention of the windshield wiper, driving in the rain was virtually impossible. This seemingly simple device (and an angled windshield) makes driving in poor weather viable.
Windshield wipers fall into the same category as lights. They are so effective at preventing car accidents in rain and snow that they are mandatory on every car sold in the U.S. Driving without clear visibility can increase the risk of a crash and may lead to a citation depending on the circumstances. Fault is determined case-by-case based on the evidence.
5. Airbags
Airbags are another safety feature so effective that they have become mandatory in all modern vehicles.
While airbags save lives, especially when used in conjunction with seat belts, they are significantly less effective than seat belts. In the 30 years between 1987 and 2017, airbags saved approximately 50,000 lives. Compare that to the roughly 15,000 lives saved by seat belts in 2017 alone, and you can see a wide gap in effectiveness.
The Most Important Safety Features Are In Every Vehicle
Modern cars may have additional safety features like adaptive cruise control or rear cameras, but these features only slightly improve safety. Basic safety features, such as headlights and seatbelts, do the most to prevent serious injuries and death.
Contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Today For A Free Consultation With A San Diego Car Accident Lawyer
Even the best safety features can’t prevent every crash. When another driver’s negligence causes your injuries, you shouldn’t be stuck paying the price. If you were hurt in a car accident, Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Contact our San Diego car accident lawyers today for a complimentary consultation.
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We also serve the state of Texas. For legal assistance, contact our personal injury law office in El Paso today.
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