While speaking to the LA Times, Jennifer Aniston once admitted that she spent her first paycheck on a Vintage Mercedes. Jay Leno, one of the most popular television hosts and comedians of all time, has a collection of 181 cars at the Burbank airport. Most of them are classics. These are just a few high-profile individuals who openly love antique cars. The truth is these old-timers have a special allure that attracts the most loyal and dedicated enthusiasts.
But with their timeless elegance comes their lack of modern safety features like seatbelts. To understand why, you must turn back the clock to 1965 when safety belts were not widely recognized as a car safety feature. The first seatbelt legislation in California was passed in 1985. That’s why cars from these eras tend to lack seatbelts. So, what does this mean for you as a classic car owner? Could you get pulled over for driving an oldie without seatbelts? Keep reading to find out the answers to these and many more questions.
Mapping Out the History of Seatbelt Laws in California
“The seatbelt laws that we have today are a result of decades of gradual legislative development. This is why classic cars lack many of the mandatory safety features you would get in your average modern sedan,” says accident attorney Scott Silberman of Silberman & Lam LLP.
Below is an outline of the evolution of seatbelt laws in California from the early years of automotive design to the present day:
Early Years (Pre-1960s)
You must understand that the concept of a car was still a novel idea during these years. The Ford Model T, the brand responsible for making cars more accessible to Americans, was introduced in 1908. Given the fact that safety features evolved as cars started becoming more mainstream, it’s understandable why seatbelts were practically nonexistent. If you own a car manufactured before the 1960s, chances are it doesn’t have a seatbelt, as it wasn’t a mandatory safety feature then.
The Seat Belt Awareness Era Begins – The 1960s
The seatbelt awareness era began in the early ‘60s during the post-World War II period when the number of driving Americans increased. Fatalities and injuries in car accidents sharply rose, prompting state and federal agencies to initiate investigations into the causes and methods to mitigate this problem. It is through these studies that the effectiveness of seatbelts in preventing injury in car accidents emerged. As a result, California, along with other states, began raising awareness of the importance of seatbelts.
Legislation Begins – The 1970s
In 1970, California passed a law requiring all old cars sold to be equipped with lap belts for front passengers. The federal government required seatbelts to be installed in all new vehicles by 1974, but there was no law mandating passengers to actually wear these seatbelts.
Mandatory Seatbelts – 1986 to Present
California enacted its mandatory seatbelt laws in 1985, requiring both drivers and front passengers to wear seatbelts. The law officially came into effect on January 1, 1986, also introducing primary enforcement, which allowed police to stop and fine drivers solely for not wearing a seatbelt.
What This Means for Classic Car Owners
Up to this point, you are aware of the evolution of seatbelt laws in California from the past to the present. If your classic car was manufactured before 1985, chances are it came from the factory without a seatbelt. Fortunately, under California law, cars manufactured before 1985 are not legally required to have seatbelts.
Still, retrofitting your classic Chevy, Mercedes, Pontiac, or Ford with a seatbelt is a good idea for safety reasons. And the exact interpretation of seatbelt laws can vary depending on your model. So, the safest and easiest option is to install a seatbelt and wear it at all times.
Conclusion
Indeed, classic cars manufactured before 1985 are not required to have seatbelts. It’s because seatbelt laws were still evolving in the years when these classics were manufactured. Still, it’s a good idea to add seatbelts to your car and strap on while driving. It can save you in case of an accident.
Also read: What to Do Immediately After an Out-of-State Accident
