Henry Ford is credited with creating the affordable automobile.\u00a0 Because of mass production and assembly lines, by the 1920s an automobile purchase was in the reach of most of the population of the developed countries.\u00a0 A Ford Model T cost less than $300 USD in 1920; much lower priced than the $1,200 USD it brought in 1909.\u00a0 Now the masses of working class people could afford modern transportation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The early vehicles could travel at speeds up to an amazing 50 miles per hour.\u00a0 The mechanical brakes of those vehicles were little better than dragging your feet though, and the steering was kind of vague, thus many accidents occurred, often seriously injuring the occupants.\u00a0 Improvements were made in steering, brakes, tires and suspensions making vehicles much safer to operate, but accidents still occurred, mostly from driver error than from inadequate equipment.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 As the modern age of automobiles arrived, the attempts to make them safer increased.\u00a0 Padded dashboards and instrument panels, collapsible steering wheels and finally seat belts were added to new cars.\u00a0 Some of these, most notably the seat belts, were an aftermarket addition.\u00a0 Injuries from car wrecks became less severe even when many of the vehicles involved were totally destroyed, or at least irreparable.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.privatefleet.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Early-Wreck3.jpg\")
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