12 Auto Safety Campaigns from the Past That Were Wildly Outdated
Looking back, some older car safety campaigns feel more like comedy sketches than actual public service announcements. They may have meant well, but many relied on questionable science, cheesy slogans, or flat-out strange advice. What was once serious guidance now feels wildly out of touch and sometimes unintentionally hilarious.
- Tricia Quitales
- 4 min read
Car safety messaging has come a long way, but it wasn’t always grounded in logic or realism. In the past decades, auto safety campaigns were often more focused on flashy messages than effective advice. Some ideas that were pushed back then seem downright dangerous or bizarre today. Let’s revisit 12 outdated auto safety campaigns that remind us how far vehicle awareness has evolved.
1. “Don’t Be a Dummy, Buckle Up” (1970s)
Alena Darmel on Pexels
This campaign used crash test dummies to deliver safety messages in the most cartoonish way. While the idea of wearing seat belts was right, the goofy tone made it hard to take seriously. It became more of a punchline than a real push for behavior change.
2. Children Riding in the Front Seat Ads (1960s)
Beyza Kaplan on Pexels
At one point, ads even encouraged kids to ride up front for the “best view.” There were no mentions of airbags or impact risks, which we now know are major concerns. It reflected a time when fun sometimes came before function.
3. “Keep Your Hands at 10 and 2” (1950s–2000s)
JESHOOTS.com on Pexels
For decades, drivers were told to keep their hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. However, with the arrival of airbags, this position became more dangerous than helpful. Newer advice recommends 9 and 3 to avoid wrist and arm injuries during deployment.
4. Drunk Driving PSA with Talking Cars (1980s)
energepic.com on Pexels
A surreal campaign featured cars that “talked” to each other about their drunk drivers. While the message was important, the execution was odd and lacked real emotional impact. It felt more like a cartoon than a serious warning.
5. “If You Love Them, Leave Them” Seatbelt Campaign (1990s)
Luke Miller on Pexels
This campaign suggested you show love by buckling someone up, using dramatic romance scenes to deliver the message. While the idea wasn’t bad, the overly emotional tone made it feel more like a soap opera than a PSA. It didn’t age well in an era craving straightforward facts.
6. No Helmets in Early Motorcycle Ads (1940s–1960s)
vikram sundaramoorthy on Pexels
Old motorcycle safety ads often focused more on leather jackets than helmets. Riders were shown speeding through hills with hair blowing in the wind, no protective gear in sight. It took decades before helmets became a strong focus of road safety.
7. “Better Dead Than Wed” Anti-Speeding Campaign (1950s)
Kelly on Pexels
In a bizarre twist, one ad warned that young men who speed might get married, and that was somehow worse than crashing; it played off gender fears more than real danger. Thankfully, modern campaigns aim to educate, not shame.
8. “Drive Defensively, Like a Turtle” (1960s)
Muharrem Alper on Pexels
Trying to promote cautious driving, one ad compared safe drivers to turtles. While memorable, it painted slow driving as the ultimate solution, even in fast-moving traffic. The result was confusion and some risky interpretations on the roads.
9. Safety Glass Demonstrations with Baseballs (1950s)
Steshka Willems on Pexels
In one campaign, safety glass was “proven” by throwing baseballs at windshields during car shows. While entertaining, this didn’t reflect real crash conditions, and people often misunderstood what the glass could actually withstand.
10. Encouraging Horn Use for Safety (1930s)
Joanie xie on Pexels
Drivers were once taught to honk their horns to alert others at every intersection. Cities quickly found this led to chaos and noise, not better safety. The campaign faded once people realized it was causing more stress than protection.
11. Smoking While Driving Was Normal (1940s–1970s)
Nina Hill on Pexels
Many auto ads showed drivers with a cigarette in one hand and the wheel in the other. There was no mention of distraction, just cool imagery and ashtrays built into every car. Today, it’s hard to imagine safety experts being okay with this.
12. “Cars Don’t Kill, People Do” (1980s)
Sindre Fs on Pexels
This campaign aimed to shift blame from car design to driver behavior. While driver responsibility matters, ignoring car safety flaws wasn’t the best approach. It missed the point that safer cars help prevent human error, too.