Brimming with child-restraint options. Simply kidding.
When you’re my age, you giggle a bit of each time you learn or watch one thing about youngster security, not less than youngster security because it pertains to automotive journey. I used to be born in 1965, and in regards to the closest my dad and mom ever got here to worrying about my effectively being within the automotive was not permitting me to open a door whereas the automobile was in movement. Enjoyable truth: I did, the truth is open the automotive door a number of occasions whereas the was in movement. This was again when spanking was nonetheless a factor. Good occasions.
Per the Nationwide Institute of Well being—which sounds faux, however isn’t—it wasn’t till 1986 that each one 50 states had youngster security seat legal guidelines on the books. And whereas I applaud the transfer from a toddler wellbeing perspective, I morn the passing of children free roaming within the automotive, crawling up on—and resting on—the rear parcel shelf, and wrestling with siblings within the rear-seat footwells.
This brings us to the wonderful 1956 Nash print advert seen right here. Whereas the advert talks recreation about security, it’s value noting that there isn’t a seatbelt in sight. That mentioned, seat belts had been nonetheless non-compulsory on vehicles on the time, if supplied in any respect.
Traditional Automotive Advertisements: Chevrolet Monte Carlo
However, it’s the reclining-seat mattress characteristic that’s most amusing. Seen within the advert is a pair of youngsters, apparently tuckered from a busy day trip, sleeping comfortably on the Nash’s patented folding mattress. And, not solely are mother and pa unbuckled, the children are additionally unrestrained. And, earlier than any security stickler will get too up in arms about this association, take notice: Nobody who learn this advert in 1956 thought that something was mistaken right here.
And take coronary heart, Nash took particular care of rear-seat passengers with a particular suspension designed to cut back “back-seat bounce,” which appears fairly thoughtful of the carmaker.
Per the advert, there are different Nash options that helped insure long-trip consolation, together with low-cost air-con, and the “Double Security” welded body.
It could appear odd to look again on this advert and surprise how dad and mom and carmakers may probably have allowed youngsters to journey so recklessly. However, in reality, in-car youngster restraints had been merely one thing the customers had not but gotten round to worrying about. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security is now investigating rear-seat-passenger crash security, and one potential final result of the analysis stands out as the implementation of ceiling airbags. Such installations may carry the variety of airbags in a given automotive to 10—extra in some circumstances—which is a reasonably lengthy journey from letting the little rascals sleep unrestrained throughout two seating rows. That’s progress.
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1956 Nash Gallery
(Click on under for enlarged photographs)
Automotive Security for Youngsters, Nineteen Fifties Model: Put ’Em in a Harness and Give ’Em a Gun!