The Insurance Lobby pressed the government for tougher bumper standards since they were the ones paying out claims. They pushed for and got 5-mph bumpers.

I remember ready about a conversation that the Pontiac management were having after the stylists incorporated the federal bumpers on the new 1973 models. Management were aghast at the huge protrusions, but they were bound.


There was a time when cars were built to be cars, not "bumper cars" first.
When your only tool is a hammer, you tend to look at everything being a nail.
When your only tool is legislation you tend to look upon everything needing to be legislated.
When you look at a car as a polluting killing machine, draconian legislation is inevitable (unless you utilize your local MP or Councillor). We need more "car guys" in government.

I guess it could be said that some of us were around in the Wild West days of the car, before it matured.