Infographic: The Timeline of Automotive Safety in the U.S.
I’m pleased to publish my latest infographic, which shows the evolution of automotive safety standards in our country. Previous Purcell Law infographics discussed the dangers of auto accidents, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Cars were first invented in the late 1800’s, and the first car accident fatality occurred during 1899 in New York City. Despite this, seatbelts were not offered on some automotive car models until the 1950′s.
During the 1960′s, safety advocate Ralph Nader published “Unsafe at any Speed,” a book that revealed how car manufacturers were hesitant to invest in automotive safety features. In response to an increasing number of car crash fatalities in the 60’s, Congress passed the National Highway Safety Act, enabling the federal government to set road safety standards.
By the 1980′s, mandatory seatbelt laws were in effect, and by the 90′s, airbags were featured in all brand new cars. In the 2000′s, cell phones posed a new challenge to road safety. Politicians acknowledged the dangers of talking and texting while driving and outlawed the practice in many states, including California.
This brings us to the present day, in which car accident injuries have reached historic lows. But car crash injuries and fatalities still take place. That’s why the best safety feature of all is a careful driver.
A Note from Chris Purcell
Has a member of your family experienced a serious injury due to a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence in the Southern California area? I’m an Orange County personal injury attorney and I may be able to help. You may reach out to me here for more information.
