14 Everyday Habits From the ’80s That Would Be Illegal Today

In the 1980s, daily life came with a set of daily habits that people did not even bother questioning. People were riding in the back of pick-up trucks, and kids were sitting in the front seat. People did not also bother wearing seat belts. Smoking was an accepted habit in airplanes. Batteries were being thrown away in the trash. Used motor oil was being drained into storm drains. People were burning trash and leaves in their backyards, filling the air with smoke. People were also burning paint and car fluids in the backyards and discarding them thoughtlessly. Lawn darts were a toy that posed a threat and ultimately resulted in their banning by governments.

1. Riding in the Back of Pickup Trucks Without Restrictions

Back then, riding in the back of a pickup truck was just the way things were. In many parts of the United States, young people would ride in the back of a pickup truck while adults drove on streets or highways. This was done after a baseball game, going to the beach, or coming home from a barbecue. The metal bed of the truck creaked beneath each footfall, sneakers scuffling along the metal as the breeze blew through loose hair. It was just something that was done; a normal routine because seatbelt laws had not yet fully taken hold, or the safety consciousness hadn’t yet fully sunk in. In fact, later in history, laws in many states prohibited riding in the back of a pickup truck due to the high risk of injury in a crash.

2. Smoking in Airplanes During Flights

In the early to mid-1980s, smoking on a plane was just part of the experience. In fact, airplanes had ashtrays in the armrests, and entire sections of the plane were reserved for smokers. Everyone lit up as soon as they took off, and they continued to smoke throughout their entire, often lengthy, flight. The smell of smoke wafted throughout the cabin, mingling with coffee and reheated meals. Flight attendants carried around metal trays filled with the extinguished remains of cigarettes. This, of course, was a reflection of the cultural attitudes toward cigarettes in general, as they were common in offices, restaurants, hotels, and even hospitals.

3. Letting Young Children Sit in the Front Seat of Cars

In the 1980s, it was very common for parents to let their kids sit in the front seat without any safety gear. The smallest passengers just ride along with their parents for errands and road trips. The front seat becomes a convenient resting place for toys and snacks as the car speeds along the road. It was just normal back then, and no one really thought twice about it. The safety technology in cars was still in its early days. Airbags were only introduced in the 1990s. Research has shown that letting your children sit in the front seat can result in much more severe injuries in the event of a car accident or airbag deployment.

4. Burning Household Trash in the Backyard

In the 1980s, many people burned their trash in backyard drums or small fire pits. A family would collect their paper trash, food packaging, cardboard boxes, and other garbage. They would then collect all the trash and burn it at the end of the week by lighting their drums or fire pits. The smoke would be seen drifting around their neighborhoods as the fire consumed all the trash, leaving only ash behind. This was particularly common in rural areas where garbage collection services were not readily available or were too costly. At that time, people did not understand the dangers of burning their garbage to the environment.

5. Riding Bicycles Without Helmets

Back in the 1980s, kids riding their bikes through the neighborhood did not give a second thought to helmet safety. They sped through the sidewalks in groups, launched themselves off dirt ramps on their BMX bikes, and cycled through the neighborhood between dawn and dusk. Scuffed-up knees were de rigueur, but helmets were nowhere to be seen. In fact, parents wrote them off as unnecessary, and no one seemed to be advocating helmet-wearing in schools or towns. But then, as various studies began to shed light into the darkness of head injuries in the late ’80s and early ’90s, safety attitudes began to take a turn for the better. Nowadays, if a kid is seen riding a bike without a helmet, a fine can be imposed on the parent or guardian of that kid.

6. Driving Without Wearing Seat Belts

In the early 1980s, seat belt use was still optional. Cars were already equipped with them, but the laws requiring seat belt use were not yet strictly enforced. People went on the road with little concern about seat belt use, and the same was true of those riding with them. Long drives meant families were comfortable in their cars, with little security, while music played loudly from cassette tapes. However, the numbers began to change, proving that seat belt use really reduced the number of accident-related casualties. This prompted the government to impose laws requiring the use of seat belts, as well as increasing the number of traffic stops.

7. Throwing Household Batteries in the Regular Trash

Going back a bit into the 1980s, throwing used household batteries into the kitchen trash was the norm. Dying AA or C batteries from flashlights, toys, radios, or portable cassette players accumulate in junk drawers before eventually being discarded into the trash. Garbage collection services took them away along with food waste, paper products, and plastic packaging materials. Not many people are concerned about the heavy metals and chemicals contained in these discarded batteries. Environmental concerns about the proper disposal of these batteries were not a concern back then. Many of these batteries contained mercury, cadmium, and other harmful materials that could potentially leach into landfills and contaminate the groundwater.

8. Dumping Motor Oil in Storm Drains or Soil

Back in the 1980s, working on cars was a weekend routine for many families. After changing the engine oil in the driveway or garage, people would dispose of the used oil by simply pouring it onto the ground or into the storm drains. The thick, midnight-black oil would either soak into the pavement or be flushed away by any rainstorm. For many years, this was a harmless practice for many automobile owners. It wasn’t until scientists began discovering the effects that used motor oil was actually filled with toxic chemicals that poisoned our waterways. This used oil could pollute a significant amount of our drinking water for every gallon disposed of.

9. Leaving Refrigerators or Appliances on the Curb Without Removing Doors

In the 1980s, discarded fridges and freezers would be placed on the sidewalk or an empty lot to be collected. A family would simply unplug the appliance and drag it out to the curb with the door still attached. In many cases, the discarded appliances would be left on the sidewalk for days before they were collected by the garbage trucks. The heavy doors, once shut, sealed tight, but many people were not aware of the danger they posed. Tragic accidents involving children would ultimately reveal the danger of suffocation in discarded refrigerators. Once the door was shut, it would be almost impossible to open from the inside. Governments have since implemented safety regulations that require the door to be removed before discarding an appliance.

10. Drinking Alcohol While Driving

In the early 1980s, the laws regarding alcohol and driving were less restrictive. People were less understanding of the situation. Beer drinking on the road during road trips, tailgating, or long drives in the countryside was common. The alcoholic drinks were placed in the cup holders or on the passenger seat. This practice may not have been considered a responsible action, but it may not have been considered a major crime either. However, the situation changed with road safety campaigns. Studies revealed that drinking on the road caused more road deaths. This practice has now been banned all over the world. In most places, it is illegal to drink an alcoholic drink with an open container while driving a car.

11. Selling Lawn Darts for Backyard Games

In the 1980s, lawn darts were a common backyard feature in North America. They were available for purchase in toy stores. The product consists of large metal spikes that have a plastic fin on each end. The product was intended for a circular target on the ground. Families would often get together during the summer months for barbecues. Kids took their turn throwing the dart at the target while adults watched from a nearby location. The product was a safety hazard. The darts could end up anywhere on the target, which was a safety concern. This was highlighted by a series of incidents involving children. There was a surge in safety concerns over the product. Many countries banned the product by the end of the 1980s.

12. Burning Leaves in Residential Neighborhoods

In many neighborhoods, autumn meant a large pile of fallen leaves and that familiar smoky smell wafting through the air. Neighbors would often rake their leaves into a pile, then set them on fire. The leaves would crackle as they slowly turned into ashes. Children may have jumped in these leaf piles throughout the day, then lit them on fire in the evening. For decades, it seemed like a harmless activity, yet it posed significant risks to air quality and fire hazards. The smoky smell of burning leaves contained dangerous chemicals that irritated people’s lungs and made breathing difficult. As people became more educated about the environment, cities began implementing laws against burning leaves.

13. Dumping Household Paint Down Drains or Into the Yard

Going back to the 1980s, the common practice of disposing of leftover paint from home improvement projects was to dispose of it directly down the drain of sinks, toilets, or simply pour it on the ground. Leftover paint was simply rinsed down the drain under running water. Half-full paint cans were simply discarded into the soil or the storm drain to avoid the hassle of storing them. However, later, environmental regulations revealed just how harmful the practice of discarding paint down the drain really was. Paint contains solvents, heavy metals, and other chemicals that can pollute the water supply if they are allowed to get into the sewer system or the water supply.

14. Allowing Children to Ride in the Cargo Area of Station Wagons

The station wagon was the family mover and shaker of the 1980s, renowned for its nooks that faced backwards and its cargo space just behind the second row of seats. On road trips or weekend excursions, children would sometimes ride back there, some of them stretched out under a blanket with their toys, others sitting near the back window, gazing out at the world whizzing by. It was almost like a little playground for road trips, especially for large families. But over time, safety studies revealed that these cargo spaces were not very secure in the event of accidents, with minimal restraints, and people were more likely to be injured.

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