1970 El Camino Wrong Way Deaths~Minn.

[mockingbird812]

Very sad indeed. The biggest difference between the older cars and modern is their crash-worthiness design. The old cars have lots of mass but are too rigid and were not designed to crumple strategically which gives the occupants the time to decelerate within their "design" limits. The more time that you can buy to slow the body down the less likely there are life threatening injuries. Altho this ElC had lap and probably separate shoulder belts how many of us only attach the lap belt. Shoulder belt will aid, of course, the head/chest from contacting steering wheel or dash. Another consideration is maintaining the integrity of the occupiable space. Old cars are known for things like engines intruding into the occupants areas whereas new cars have lots of tricks to avoid this and maintain the integrity of the occupants area with modern structural reinforcements.