Safety technologies take about three decades to implement: report

Arlington, VA – Safety technologies take about three decades before they are implemented in the “vast majority” of registered passenger vehicles, according to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute.

The report (.pdf file) tracked technologies such as antilock brakes, electronic stability control, driver frontal airbags, side airbags and forward collision warning systems among registered passenger vehicles in the United States.

As an example of the length of time it takes for technologies to be implemented, the report noted that frontal airbags were first available to consumers in 1984. By 2000, most vehicles used by private passengers were required to have frontal airbags; however, in 2010, an estimated 13 percent of vehicles were registered without this feature available.

Researchers found that luxury vehicles are most likely to first feature new technologies.