General Motors Looks Back at Century of Automotive Safety Milestones

General Motors safety milestones were recently highlighted during Global Safety Week, showcasing the automaker's century-long journey of pioneering automotive protection features.

Regina Carto, Vice President of Global Product Safety, Systems and Certification, detailed how the Michigan-based company shaped modern driving standards through continuous technological evolution.

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Historical records show that early safety development involved daring methods, including Milford Proving Ground testing where engineers occasionally jumped out of vehicles before barrier impacts.

Over the decades, these primitive testing procedures gave way to sophisticated innovations such as the Hybrid III crash-test dummy family introduced in 1977.

Evolution of Safety From Seatbelts to Connected Cars

Today, the automaker's safety focus extends into advanced digital systems, automated driving assistance, and connectivity features designed to safeguard vehicle occupants.

General Motors introduced landmark protective equipment in the late 1960s, including the Child Love Seat and energy-absorbing steering columns designed to mitigate impact injuries.

The introduction of early production airbag systems in the 1970s marked another critical leap forward in occupant protection during severe vehicle collisions.

In 1996, the company helped pioneer connected vehicle technology by launching OnStar, transforming emergency response and vehicle diagnostics for drivers.