This 1982 color seatbelt safety film is called “Safety Belts and You” and was produced by Ford Motor Company. It was released before the first US seat belt usage requirement law was passed in New York in 1984. Subsequently, the studies and effects referenced in this film helped lead every state but New Hampshire to require seat belt use for adults (still not required in 2018); however, all 50 states requires seatbelt use on those less than 18 years old. The film begins with shots of destroyed cars in the Ford crash testing junk yard with broken windshields and smashed fenders (0:06-1:00). A crash test dummy is shown sitting in a car, and various sized dressed dummies are shown being adjusted by a researcher (1:01-1:25). Footage of 1950s Ford car crash testing is shown (1:26-1:40), which led to their industry-first move to factory-installed safety belts. Engineers prepare a car for testing, and film the entire process (1:40-1:56). A car crashes in slow motion at 14 mph, and different angles of un-belted dummies crash into the steering wheel, roof, and through the windshield (1:57-2:35). The previous crash test is repeated, but at 22 mph and then again at 31 mph, with more injuries to the dummies shown in slow motion (2:36-2:53). Another high-speed test is performed with two backseat passenger dummies, one belted and the other not, and the results are shown in slow motion of the importance of wearing a seat belt in the back seat (3:54-4:35). Another crash in a small car is performed with all passengers wearing seat belts, and then again in a station wagon and another small car. The results of the test are shown in slow motion, as the belted dummies do not go into the windshields (4:36-5:44). An outdoor rear-crash is performed with belted dummies, and the results are shown in slow motion, once again not going into the windshield (5:45-6:15). A high speed severe crash test is shown at normal speed and then slow motion, with an unbelted dummy flying completely out of the car and over 50 feet away. Slow motion footage is also shown from within the car. (6:16-7:08). The announcer talks to the camera among wrecked cars (7:08-7:51), then gets in the driver seat of 1982 Ford Thunderbird that has a crash test dummy as the passenger. He puts on his seatbelt to drive (7:52-8:22). The film ends with the Ford logo appearing over the clicked seat belt (8:23-8:31).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com