The IIHS crash-tested a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer against its modern equivalent to mark 30 years since the agency began evaluating vehicle safety.
The newer Blazer's driver likely would have received only minor injuries, while the 1996 Blazer's could have been seriously hurt or killed.
The 40-mph moderate-overlap crash test highlights how far vehicle safety has come in 30 years.
Vehicle safety has come a long way in the past 30 years. Drivers benefit from the widespread adoption of airbags, traction and stability control, and stronger body structures, while active safety advances like automatic emergency braking and driver monitoring aim to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place.
As a result, the per-capita US road fatality rate has fallen in over 20 out of the last 30 years according to NHTSA data, despite an alarming rise in pedestrian deaths since 2010, potentially linked to the increased prevalence of larger trucks and SUVs.
