Today, infants riding in vehicles must be securely strapped in backward-facing safety seats, while older children travel in larger safety seats in the back of automobiles. Just 40 years ago, however, kids not only rode in the car on Mom’s lap, they also sat three-in-the-front-seat on family outings. (To be fair, larger, heavier vehicles helped to keep occupants safe back then, not to mention the fact that there were fewer autos on the road overall.)

While the concept of seat belts had been around for years, most automakers didn’t begin offering them as an accessory until the 1950s. (Interestingly enough, prior to that time, it was not uncommon for physicians – who were well familiar with crash statistics – to special order vehicles equipped with lap restraints.) By 1964, 23 states had passed a law that required new cars to have lap belts installed in the front seats of vehicles. Four years later, automobile manufacturers made lap belts standard equipment in the back seat as well. 1968 was also the year that American autos first offered three-point restraints (the shoulder/lap belt combo in use today) in the front seats of vehicles. But these rules and regulations were foisted strictly on the auto manufacturers, not the consumers.

Public service announcements were full of “buckle up for safety” warnings throughout the 1970s, because at that time, it was up to the discretion of the driver and passengers whether or not to make use of the installed restraints. It wasn’t until 1984 that New York enacted the first statewide mandatory seat belt law. Now, most states require belt usage for front seat passengers, and many for rear seat occupants as well.