Vehicle Safety
Safety engineered through a human lens means developing initiatives to support safe driving and technologies that can help mitigate crashes.
Nothing matters more than the ones we love. We’re developing initiatives to support safe driving and technologies that can help mitigate crashes.
59% of fatal crashes involved drugs or alcohol
In 2020, 59% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for drugs and or alcohol.1 That’s why GM supports safe driving laws and is working to help educate and develop technologies to make our roads safer.
What We Know
10,000+
alcohol-fatalities per year
In 2019, there were 10,142 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in which at least one driver was alcohol impaired. This totaled 28 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year.2
Fatality every
52
minutes
An average of one alcohol-impaired driving fatality occurred every 52 minutes in 2019.2
4x
more likely to crash with alcohol in system
Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 are approximately 4x more likely to crash than drivers with a BAC of zero. At a BAC of 0.15, drivers are at least 12x more likely to crash than drivers with a BAC of zero.3
How GM Helps
Our holistic approach to safety is how we are trying to address impaired driving through research and advocacy.
Research
GM is committed to understanding the issues on the road with respect to alcohol and drug use.
20% is too much
GM has collaborated with MADD to better understand the problem of driving and drugs. According to MADD, about one in five have, or know someone who has, driven while impaired by prescription opioid, depressant or stimulant medications – or those mixed with other substances like alcohol or marijuana.6
Sober Up
to Start Up
GM is working with NHTSA and industry collaborators as part of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) consortium to develop new technologies to detect driver alcohol use before the driver starts the vehicle.
Advocacy
GM works with nonprofit organizations to help raise awareness and educate on the various risks associated with teen driving.
63,000teen advocates
GM funded DoSomething.org ‘Friends On Lock’ campaign that motivated 63k teens to “do something” about impaired driving and help keep thousands of their friends safer on the road.
20+years
For over two decades, GM has supported MADD’s mission to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.
Texans for a Safe and Drug Free Youth
Through GM grant support, this nonprofit organization is working statewide with community-led coalitions to reduce underage drinking and impaired driving.
A vision of zero crashes
GM is committed to helping create a future with zero crashes.
Get the full story
GM looks at safety from every angle. That’s why we’ve created an ongoing series of infographics that explore many aspects of road safety and what GM is doing to advance a safer world for all.
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND GM SAFETY
“It is exciting to work at GM in the safety industry. Innovation has always been at the heart of GM, and we are always thinking ahead on how we can facilitate a safer driving experience by implementing driver assist and safety technologies such as crash avoidance and post-crash technologies.”
REGINA CARTO // Vice President of Global Product Safety & Systems
TECHNOLOGY
Peace of mind in the palm of your hand
Because you cannot always be with them, OnStar Guardian™7 can go where your loved ones go, in and out of any vehicle. Whether driving, at home or even out walking, OnStar Guardian is a safety app that puts the power of OnStar on a smartphone.
- Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
- Source: NHTSA
- Source: NHTSA
- Source: Feel Good Drive Different
- Source: CDC
- Source: MADD
- U.S. only. Available on select Apple and Android devices. Mobile Crash Response services are intended for use in vehicles only. Service coverage varies with conditions and location. Service availability, features and functionality vary by device and software version. Active OnStar Safety & Security plan or bundle, OnStar Guardian service plan add-on, cell reception, and device data connection required. Terms apply. Device permissions are required for app to operate properly. OnStar links to emergency services. Device and app may not transmit all crash data. See onstar.com for details and limitations. Pricing and availability subject to change. Cadillac owners are not eligible for this offer. Offer requires that you associate an approved payment method on file to your account and authorize recurring payments for your service plan. The amount and frequency of each recurring payment are based upon the service(s) and payment interval(s) you select from the options provided. You may cancel at any time by calling 1.888.4ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827).