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caraher

(6,276 posts)
23. So much confusion about the regulatory history here
Sun Jun 9, 2019, 03:44 PM
Jun 2019

Which is quite rich and tied to political changes.

What happened under Carter was the passive restraint mandate - manufacturers were to include airbags or automatic seat belts by 1983 (that's what Brock Adams actually ordered). There followed heavy lobbying by the auto industry to give them alternatives. The Reagan administration dropped the mandate in 1981, a decision that got taken to court and ultimately reversed.

In 1984, Elizabeth Dole essentially offered a deal rescinding the mandate provided 2/3 of the population lived in states with mandatory seat belt use laws. The "click it or ticket" era thus began in the mid-1980s.

I do agree that the Carter administration deserves credit for the level of intrinsic safety we have to day in terms of in-vehicle passenger restraints. But they didn't order seatbelts in cars and there were many twists and turns along the way

Was there a problem adding the link directly? JHB Jun 2019 #1
I didn't know this about Carter. Thanks for posting MaryMagdaline Jun 2019 #2
Most people don't know this about Carter. He does not brag about it. Stuart G Jun 2019 #3
Thank you President Carter. calimary Jun 2019 #4
Are you sure you have this right? Seatbelts were made mandatory in 1968. marylandblue Jun 2019 #5
I do not think that is correct. Cars were manufactured after 68 without seatbelts. Stuart G Jun 2019 #6
Maybe some were, but I grew up in the 1970s and never was in a car without seatbelts. marylandblue Jun 2019 #8
Perhaps there was some kind of rule, but it was not enforced. I do not remember Stuart G Jun 2019 #9
That is what Wikipedia says True Blue American Jun 2019 #22
Maybe it was the shoulder harness component? mr_lebowski Jun 2019 #10
Yeah I recall something like that too. marylandblue Jun 2019 #15
There was a good article on DU about how Volvo open sourced their invention for three point okaawhatever Jun 2019 #25
Cars did not have rear seatbelts until sometime in the 80s. Back seatbelts were not required. Stuart G Jun 2019 #11
They were required for each designated seating position as of January 1, 1968. sl8 Jun 2019 #29
Which cars? WillowTree Jun 2019 #12
Just because there was a "mandate" it was not enforced... Stuart G Jun 2019 #14
I think maybe Carter ordered the rear seatbelts. Still a big lifesaver. marylandblue Jun 2019 #17
The NHTSA .".promotes"...it does not make laws. It is part of the executive branch. Stuart G Jun 2019 #18
I think whoever created the seat belt laws are responsible for saving a lot of lives also. Maraya1969 Jun 2019 #7
i am a proud fan of jimmy carter rampartc Jun 2019 #13
And it's not the first thing Jimmy has done to save lives and alleviate suffering shanti Jun 2019 #16
Don't speak too loudly. Trump will roll back... BadgerMom Jun 2019 #19
That was my exact and first thought when I saw this post. Doreen Jun 2019 #27
I'm surprised Trump hasn't tried to roll back that successful safety initiative Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #20
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2019 #21
So much confusion about the regulatory history here caraher Jun 2019 #23
Thank you for the clarifications. n/t sl8 Jun 2019 #30
I was resistent to the idea of manadatory seatbelts at the time. PufPuf23 Jun 2019 #24
A great man. Did not know about this. Thank you for posting and Thanks President Carter. nt emmaverybo Jun 2019 #26
Great post malaise Jun 2019 #28
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