Automotive safety has come a long way in a short amount of time. Though you won't find a car without them today, the three-point safety belt wasn't even invented until 1959, and vehicles weren't mandated to be equipped with them until 1968.
In the past decade, automakers have begun implementing a new approach to safety. Not only do they have passive features like seatbelts and airbags to help occupants survive a crash—they have active safety features to help avoid the crash altogether.
In a recent video series by the NHTSA, Explaining Crash Avoidance Technology, Tested.com's Adam Savage explores and demonstrates several active safety features, like pedestrian detection.
Pedestrian detection, available on select new Ford vehicles, uses cameras with shape-recognition technology. When it senses the shape of a pedestrian crossing the road, and calculates an imminent possibility of hitting them, the car brakes automatically to avoid disaster.
Looking for a car with a particular set of safety features? Contact Apple Ford of Lynchburg Inc. for help tracking down the models that fit your needs.