At the same time cars got airbags, states began passing laws requiring people to wear belts, the movement to put children in the rear seats began, and cars became quite a bit safer.

When I pushed down on the pedal of my 82 Buick Regal, it seemed to require an additional prayer that it would actually stop in time. The brakes on that car (discs on the front, drums on the rear) sucked bigtime. The same system was used on Chevys, Pontiacs, and Oldsmobiles, as they were the same car.

Most of the l70's and 80's cars are off the road by now, other than those that have been crushed, melted and resurrected as safer Camrys.

I am sure that airbags have helped, but they are not the only thing that has.

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Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)