Sept. 9, 1966: The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act is signed into law

Thursday 9 September 2010

On Sept. 9, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Act into law, allowing for federal government standards to be set for both motor vehicles and highways. The act was created in response to a national concern about vehicle safety, much of which was attributed to Ralph Nader’s book about the auto industry’s neglect of safety regulations, Unsafe at Any Speed. As a result of the act, automobiles were built with improved safety features such as head rests and shatter-resistant windshields. In addition, roads were built or improved to contain better delineation of curves, barriers separating lanes and enhanced illumination.