It can certainly be fun to drive classic or vintage vehicles. Many people do it as a hobby. They work on these vehicles in their spare time, restoring them and then enjoying driving them around town.
This is legal to do, but you need to be aware that it increases your injury risks. Older vehicles are substantially more dangerous than modern cars, so your odds of injury are higher if you’re involved in an accident.
A rigid frame
For one thing, many older vehicles had a rigid steel frame, as it was thought that a stronger vehicle would protect the occupants. But research quickly found that this wasn’t the case and that these rigid vehicles just transferred the energy of the crash into the people, rather than the car. This is why modern cars have crumple zones that break away and deteriorate on purpose, helping to dissipate that energy.
Protective equipment
Additionally, an older vehicle may not have all the same protective equipment that a new vehicle does. Maybe it just has a lap belt instead of a shoulder harness. Perhaps the vehicle doesn’t have airbags. All of this puts you at greater risk in a crash.
Crash avoidance technology
Finally, modern cars have a lot of technology designed to stop a crash from occurring in the first place. Examples include backup cameras, lane departure warning systems and blind spot monitoring systems. Older cars do not have these features, so your odds of an accident are also higher.
Even when you drive safely, you could be injured if someone else is negligent and reckless. Take the time to look into your options to seek financial compensation after an accident.
