Safety, Front & Back

Growing pressure from the Government and an increasing number of state laws have made the safety belt as common on the highway as in the air. Last year 18 million auto seat belts were in use in the U.S., compared with only 8,000,000 in 1962. Detroit's 1964 autos were the first to include safety belts as standard equipment in the front seats of all new models. Last week Ford, Chrysler and American Motors decided to go all the way and give back-seat drivers the same buckled-in protection. The three firms announced that lap belts will be installed in both the front and rear seats of all their 1966 models, and General Motors is expected to follow the lead.

Detroit's decision could double the already fast-growing business of some 40 companies that make seat belts; in two years their annual sales rose 43% to $90 million. Many of the smaller companies have already been nudged aside by the industry's three major producers: American Safety Equipment Co., Auto-Crat Manufacturing Co., and Irving Air Chute Co. From its sales to American Motors, Chrysler and Volkswagen, as well as its business of keeping men's pants up with Hickok belts, American Safety last year increased its business 100% to $13 million.

The automakers will pass on the added cost--about $22 for both front and back seats--to the consumer. For the future, their engineers are developing a number of new safety features. As an experiment, Ford has installed on some of its 1965 models shatter proof windshields capable of withstanding objects traveling up to 24 m.p.h., v. 13 m.p.h. for standard auto glass. G.M. now installs on request a device that automatically limits speed to a desired level. The auto companies are also working on passenger harnesses, padded dashboards and a steering wheel that collapses upon the impact of collision. Sears, Roebuck is even selling his-and-her safety helmets.

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