U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 6

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6: FIRST SEAT BELT LAW

Profile America — Wednesday, July 6th.  Today they are taken for granted and used by most drivers. The first seat belt law in the U.S. was signed on this date in 1955 in Illinois, and went into effect a year later.  The first American cars to have lap seat belts installed as standard equipment were 1964 Studebakers and three-point belts were introduced by Ford in 1970.  Three-point belts were required on all cars by federal law beginning with 1974 models.  In 1980, over 53,000 people were killed in automobile accidents. The most recent figures are down to 39,000, even though the population has grown considerably.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Kane's Famous First Facts, 4228

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1102  

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau