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ByRoadtrip Posted on Road Trip cars, Road Trip Guide

Are vintage cars safe to Drive? Lets Investigate

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The popularity of classic vehicles has never been greater, yet many people are sceptical about their safety in comparison to that of current automobiles.

While safety measures have gone a long way in the previous two decades, most nations do not mandate that older vehicles be brought up to date in order to meet current safety requirements. So, are old vehicles safe to drive?

The safety of classic automobiles isn’t as good as that of contemporary ones. Nowadays, automobile safety rules are far stricter than in the past, and crash technology has also progressed dramatically. In a vintage car, you’re more likely to be killed or seriously injured than in a contemporary one.

Since vintage vehicles lack contemporary safety systems, they aren’t as safe as newer models.

However, how safe are vintage vehicles to drive?I did a Bit of research and here is what I found.

Do Vintage cars have Airbags?

Airbag on a classic car? There is No such thing.

You’ll be lucky if some of these cars have seat belts, much less air bags. They also will lack energy-absorbing steering columns, adequate braking systems, headrests to avoid whiplash, and any number of other things people today take for granted.

Also Read: Why do vintage cars cost so much?

Not to put too fine a point on it, but these cars are chosen for fun, not safety. The cheapest, most basic Kia on the road today will be infinitely safer than the cars you mention.

Another thing, Take my word for it, you do not even want to see the insurance rates for teenage person and classic car.

Can you put airbags in a classic car?

Today, a car’s design revolves on all of the vehicle’s safety features, whether they’re built-in or added afterwards.

There isn’t a single engineer who believes that airbags deployed in a car 40 years or older will perform as intended in the event of a crash. 

Crash testing now provides a wealth of information that may be put to good use, but there is no such data for older works of art.

You can put anything in any automobile you want if you don’t care about the expense. Is there a simple, cost-effective method to accomplish this? 

To my knowledge, there aren’t any. I’ve only ever seen it done on really costly cars so I’m guessing it’s an incredibly tough and expensive undertaking.

How safe is it to drive a car without an airbag?

A car’s safety depends entirely on who is driving it. For many years, cars were sold without airbags as an option. Drivers who practise defensive driving and stay alert can rack up tens of thousands of kilometres on the clock without having an accident.

The air bag does not deploy in the vast majority of collisions. Air bags are sophisticated devices that only deploy when a specific threshold is met.

Even if all of the criteria are satisfied, most of these collisions would end with minor injuries if the vehicle didn’t have an air bag.

So, the airbag would have saved only a very tiny percentage of lives if it had been present.

This does not imply that you should disable or remove an air bag just for cosmetic reasons; in fact, doing so is illegal. If your car is equipped with air bags, they must work.

If it’s been used or stolen, you’ll need to get a new one

Also Read: Are vintage cars a good investment ? Facts you must know

Do Classic Cars have Seat Belts

There’s no doubting the seat belt’s efficacy as a safety device, and omitting the “clunk clip” option has legal ramifications as well. The straps can be skipped or replaced with something more basic if you’re restoring a vintage VW or Classic Porsche to its original specifications. 

Of course, we advise you to think about the safety of all passengers, regardless of whether seat belts are required in your antique automobile.

What year of automobile is exempt from the need of seat belts?

If your vehicle was manufactured prior to 1965 and seat belts were not installed at the time of manufacturing, you are not obligated to instal them.

Which automobiles are required by law to have seat belts?

Before the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, which established the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were no rules governing the use of seat belts in the United States (NHTSA). 

The Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United States Code) was the first federal legislation requiring the use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle. Manufacturers were compelled by law to provide seat belts in their cars.

However, it was not until each state in the United States passed its own seat belt legislation that the usage of seat belts became required. New York was the first state to require the usage of seat belts by drivers in 1984.

In the ensuing eleven years, 48 other states passed legislation requiring the wearing of seat belts.

New Hampshire is the only state in the US that does not mandate the wearing of seat belts by all motorists.

In 1983, the United Kingdom, like the United States, passed a nationwide seat belt regulation requiring drivers and passengers to use seat belts. 

In 1982, automobile accidents claimed the lives of 2,443 Britons. Compared to 2016, when 816 individuals lost their lives in vehicle accidents, this is a small figure. 

The number of people killed in vehicle accidents in the United States has fallen by half since 1976 (per 100,000 people).

The population of the United States has grown from 215 million in 1976 to over 320 million now. There are more motorists on the road these days because of this increase in population. 

This might lead you to believe that the number of people killed in vehicle accidents in the United States is higher nowadays. Seat belts have made this impossible. 

Seat belts, as well as other automotive safety measures and testing, are largely responsible for the improved safety of driving during the past four decades.

SEAT BELT LAWS AND CLASSIC CARS

Seat belts were not standard equipment on many vehicles until 1966. Seat belts were frequently provided as an add-on option by automakers.

As a result, if you possess a historic automobile that doesn’t come equipped with seat belts, you are under no duty to get them.

On the other hand, children under the age of 3 will not be permitted to ride in your car. Only the back seats are appropriate for children above the age of three.

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Are Vintage cars safe to drive with Kids & family?

Many drivers and vehicle enthusiasts alike like driving and collecting antique automobiles. However, when it comes to safety features, they frequently fall short. 

In the case of an automobile accident, children require special safety features. 

In the last few decades, we’ve seen a number of updates and modifications to safety rules, all with the goal of lowering the number of people injured or killed in car accidents.

These rates decreased as a result of the implementation of new safety regulations. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seat belts saved the lives of 15,000 individuals in 2016. (CDC). According to the CDC, wearing a seat belt reduces your risk of serious injury or death in a car accident by half.

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You Can Make These 4 Safety Modifications To Improve Vintage Car Safety

You may be able to increase the safety of your classic  automobile by upgrading certain of its safety equipment. Installing new safety equipment like lap and shoulder seat belts might be a costly undertaking, since you’ll almost certainly have to hire an expert to assist you. 

Be aware that the upgrades you may make to your vintage automobile are model specific, and you won’t receive the same level of safety from them as you would from purchasing a more contemporary vehicle.

These are potential enhancements to your historic car’s safety that you may be able to make. Keep in mind that contemporary automobiles offer several significant safety benefits than antiques. 

Consequently, your automobile may not be as safe as you desire if you are unable to make these adjustments. Consider:

Upgrading Head lights:
You may be possible to upgrade your car’s headlights by purchasing modern models and installing a conversion kit. Today’s lights perform a better job than their predecessors in illuminating the road

Getting New safety belts Installed
It is possible to retrofit contemporary seat belts onto vintage vehicles. Hire an expert to assist you in locating the best installation locations and verifying that they function as intended.

Tires that provide traction
Modern tyres may require new wheels and other adjustments to be used properly, but traction tyres of today may help your automobile be safer and more manoeuvrable.

Brakes with anti-lock braking systems
You may upgrade your car’s front-wheel brakes by purchasing a conversion kit.

Ideally, you have 2 Options to wash your Classic car Exteriors and the Interiors

  1. Get it manually cleaned by any Car Wash Companies around your local area
  2. You can clean your car at home.

I do my Mercedes cleaning at home on the days I do not get  free time to go for a car wash outside Or I m a bit bored at home.

Here is the list of my fav products that I use to wash my Mercedes.

1. Wet or waterless car wash-This car wash kit features a powerful formula that provides a quick, easy and quick clean without water or soap.

2.VARSK 4-in-1 Car Vacuum Cleaner- 

It is a 4-in- 1 device with  vacuum cleaning and tire inflation in one portable machine (The “I” mode is to vacuum, the “II” mode is to inflate). Besides these two essential functions, digital tire pressure LCD display is easy for you to read, and built-in LED work light illuminates your surroundings to provide extra safety and security when operated in the dark.

If you are looking at a cheaper Vacuum cleaner  This work Car Vaccum Cleaner – will be suitbal for your budget. It’s a Portable, High power and Hand held- This one is the cheaper version and This is A mini vacuum for car or truck that is compact, lightweight (2.4 lbs), and easy to use. The large dust bin capacity is ready for ash, dust, or drive-thru food spills. A fully loaded interior car detailing kit housed in an ergonomic design.

3. Auto-fiber [Scrub Ninja Interior Scrubbing Cleaning Tool]

4. LUCKLYJONE 10Pcs Car Cleaning Tools Kit, Car Wash Tools Kit

5. Armor All Original Protectant Spray and Refill, Car Interior Cleaner with UV Protection 

Are 30+ year old classic cars Unsafe to drive?

The further back in time you go, the less secure they become.

Governments have driven safety, and as laws have gotten more rigours over time, automakers have had the duty to adhere to the compliance stack of the time.

Whether it was the result of a rule or a legislative action.

A ‘classic’ vehicle from the 1950s will not have the following:

  • Motor mounts that detach
  • The stearing column
  • From the front impact to the passenger curtain, airbags are deployed.
  • impact tensioners for seat belts
  • doors with reinforced side bars
  • brakes that do not lock up

In addition, proactive accident prevention procedures and technologies have been created in order to raise awareness of a hazardous situation before it becomes a tragedy.

  • Monitoring of tyre pressure
  • identification of blind spots
  • Lane-departure warning/wake-up safety adaptive cruise control
  • Emergency braking assistance/collision avoidance
  • Cameras for the rearview mirror

All of these technologies, as well as many more not mentioned, have contributed to higher accident survival rates throughout time.

Final Thoughts

You may invest in high-quality tyres all around and get the brakes serviced on a regular basis. Although the best approach to keep an antique automobile safe is to keep it properly maintained and to drive it safely at all times.

Over the last 20 years, improved crumple zones, updated airbags, and electronic safety systems have been responsible for some of the most significant advancements in automobile safety. 

Unfortunately, none of these systems can be successfully added to an ancient automobile.

There are certain places where you may concentrate your efforts, such as the brakes and suspension; adding new components would increase safety to some extent. 

Upgrading your headlights to meet current requirements will also improve visibility.

Driving an older automobile typically takes greater skill. If you want to acquire a historic automobile but are concerned about safety, one of the greatest options is to invest in advanced driving lessons. 

If something goes wrong on the road, you’ll be in the greatest position to get yourself out of danger.

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About Authors

Div & Manny, Lifestyle Bloggers with a Love for Cars ( Mini, Maserati, Mercedes Benz and many more Luxury cars)

Div & Manny – Lifestyle Bloggers

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