Summary:
Over the decades, many once-common car features have been banned due to evolving safety and environmental regulations. These features, once considered practical or stylish, were eventually phased out as understanding of risks improved and laws changed to prioritize public well-being.
Automatic seat belts, designed to comply with safety laws without user effort, are one of the banned car features replaced by airbags after consistent mechanical failures and annoyance. Similarly, rumble seats, which placed passengers outside the vehicle without protection, were eliminated as enclosed, crash-safe cabins became the standard.
Quad headlights and sealed-beam mandates from 1957 to 1983 limited headlight design innovation until laws changed to allow modern lighting. Passenger-side mirrors were once optional, but modern laws now require them to reduce blind spots and improve driver awareness.
Distracting features like in-dash televisions were banned, and regulations now limit video displays in the driver’s line of sight. Pre-1974 bumpers prioritized design over function but were replaced by impact-absorbing bumpers following federal mandates requiring 5-mph collision protection.
Metal dashboards were once standard but posed serious injury risks in crashes. Regulations introduced energy-absorbing materials like padded vinyl and foam in the 1970s to enhance occupant safety. Before 1954, there were no brake light requirements, leading to dim, manually activated lights. Today, vehicles must include bright, high-mounted brake lights to prevent collisions.
Leaded gasoline, once used for engine performance, was phased out due to its toxic emissions, with a full ban on road vehicles by 1996. Similarly, asbestos components in brakes and clutches were banned due to serious health risks, replaced by safer alternatives.
These banned features highlight how safety and environmental regulations have shaped modern vehicle design and standards.
Motor Biscuit
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