10. Automatic Seat Belts
Automatic seat belts seemed like a great idea when they were introduced. For many people that saw these in the 80s they were cool. It was a seat belt that ensured that no one would drive without being at least somewhat protected. Automatic seat belts were first introduced by Volkswagon in 1972 on their Experimental Safety Vehicle. The 1975 Volkswagon Golf was the first commercial car to feature automatic seat belts.
In 1977 the United States Secretary of Transportation mandated that by 1983 every new car should have airbags or automatic seat belts. GM introduced the automatic seat belt on Chevrolet Chevette and then it was featured on the VW Rabbit. The Transportation Mandate went back and forth through different administrations but by 1984 it was once again mandated that all cars must have airbags or automatic seat belts. Since the automatic seat belts were cheaper, most car manufacturers opted for the seat belts. The seat belts faced complaints because it was awkward for the driver to get in and out of the car and often got in the way. If the driver was entering their car while carrying something it was even more difficult. Some drivers got so frustrated with the design that they would just cut the belt and go without.
In 1995 the rules changed yet again and all cars were required to have driver side airbags. This led most manufacturers to do away with the automatic seatbelts. The last cars to feature this design were the 1995-1996 Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer and the Eagle Summit Wagon. These seat belts were one attempt at modernization and automation that did not go over well with drivers. They did have some benefits as a 1978 study by the Department of Transportation found that cars that had automatic seat belts had a fatality rate of .78/100,000,000 miles as opposed to 2.34/100,000,000 miles for cars with regular seat belts. They were not as effective as airbags which was the reason for the change in rules yet again.