John Hetrick patented the first 'safety cushion' after a car accident, but Allen Breed invented the critical component in 1968: the crash sensor. His electromagnetic sensor could detect a collision and trigger the inflation of an airbag with sodium azide in under 30 milliseconds—faster than the blink of an eye. This invention, along with the seatbelt, has saved hundreds of thousands of lives by providing a buffer that prevents the driver and passengers from striking the steering wheel or dashboard during a crash.