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George Stephenson invents the first practical steam powered railroad locomotive.
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Jean Lenoir makes the first gasoline engine automobile.
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the Motorcycle is invented by Gottlieb Daimler.
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A speeding car in New Jersey killed a work horse towing a landscaper and a helper on a lawn mower. The landscaper was seriously hurt and his aide was killed. The incident prompted a call to regulate the speed of automobiles.
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Henry Ford improves the assembly line for automobile manufacturing.
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Drinking and driving became against the law. Intoxication was determined by arresting officers.
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Responding to the call for greater safety for car drivers and passengers, President Lyndon Johnson signed the U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Act into law. It mandated seat belts, energy-absorbing steering columns and dashboards, warning flashers, and head restraints on all cars sold in the country.
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Congress passed the Clean Air Act, setting standards for fuel consumption to increase engine efficiency and reduce air pollution. It also mandated installation of engine emission control devices. Engine horsepower dropped to accommodate the machinery.
