The period 1998 through 2010 has been one of great flux in the development and application of motor vehicle injury mitigation (safety) technologies. Over this period, vehicle manufacturers have implemented:​ depowered air bags, advanced technology air bags, side impact air bags, automatic occupant classification and air bag suppression, electronic stability control, daytime running lamps, advanced belt restraints, various driver warning and assist devices, automatic collision notification, etc. Most of these technologies have been led by manufacturers’ voluntary development and application of emerging technologies. Some technologies have been driven by new rules, and some were permitted by rule changes.

The introduction and application of 28 safety technologies have been compiled in a database created by combining data from NHTSA and Ward’s Automotive. A census of technology presence has been tabulated by:​ technology, model year, manufacturer, make, model, body style, and technology not available or technology presence as standard or optional equipment. The research includes information for specific identifiable technologies but does not include safety technology advances that manufacturers may have applied at an architectural or structure level in vehicle integration over this time period. Data is tabulated for each technology/model year pairing, analyzed as the proportion of vehicle models equipped with the technology, and tracked over time. Thus, researchers can determine which specific models are offered for sale with an emerging technology and the proportion of new models in each model year that are offered with the equipment.

Examination of the resultant data shows:​ 1) each new safety technology begins with small model penetration proportions, 2) the proportion of new vehicle models offered with an emerging technology grows over time, 3) commonly in about 5 years after first introduction the penetration proportions are substantial, and 4) nearly all newly emerging safety technologies are offered both as optional and standard equipment during the introduction period.

This may be the first study of safety technology insertion patterns;​ the raw data and tabulated results should prove to be useful to regulators and manufacturers in planning for future safety technologies and scheduling rule driven lead time and phase in periods. The study is limited to models offered for sale in the United States market only. Rollover roof rail air bags are an exception in that throughout most of the introduction period, most applications were as standard equipment only.