Back To The Future: Car Safety Improvements Since 1985
Today, October 21st 2015, is the day that Marty McFly and Doc time-traveled to from the year 1985 in the movie Back to the Future Part II. We may not have the flying cars that are seen in the movie, but cars have indeed progressed in the last 30 years. Design and safety features are just some of the improvements made to vehicles on the road today. Even though the population has only grown since 1985, the number of car crashes and resulting deaths has decreased. This can be attributed to safer cars and new laws regulating safety.
1985 Driving Facts
- Seatbelt laws were just starting pass in states throughout the country
- Alcohol was a factor in 53% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes while today alcohol is a factor in 38%
- Airbags were not mandatory
- The best-selling vehicles were the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet C-Series, Chevrolet Cavalier, and the Ford Escort
1985 Compared to Today
| 1985 | Today (data from 2011)* | |
| U.S. Population | 237,923,732 | 311,591,910 |
| Motor Vehicle Crashes | 39,196 | 29,867 |
| Deaths from Motor Vehicle Crashes | 43,825 | 32,479 |
| Deaths from Motor Vehicle Crashes Related to Alcohol | 23,167 | 9,878 |
| Average Price of a New Car | $9,000 | $30,000 |
| Average Price of Gas per gallon | $1.09 | $3.51 |
Our Car Accident Attorneys Fight to Keep Roads Safe
Future innovation will hopefully only continue to decrease the number of motor vehicle crashes and related deaths and injuries. Safer cars combined with creating and enforcing regulations helps to make roads safer for everyone. Holding wrongdoers accountable for violating these safety standards is important in keeping roads safe. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car crash due to someone violating a law or acting negligent, a Philadelphia auto accident attorney at Kane & Silverman can help. Call us at 215-232-1000 or fill out our online contact form for a free evaluation.
*Sources:
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/overview-of-fatality-facts