They've also benefited from unforeseen safety improvements - particularly side airbags and crash-avoidance systems, such as automatic braking and lane-departure warnings - credited with reducing road fatalities for all ages.
The federal government's auto-safety website -- http: //www.safercar.gov -- lists crash-test results and uses icons to highlight cars with recommended safety features, including lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning.
Manufacturers are making steady improvements to electronic safety systems, such as lane-departure alert systems, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking systems.
You peer out past the steering wheel and see a floating display with your speed, current playlist, and even markings that show the lane-departure warning system is activated.