What is a requirement for cars manufactured after 1972 regarding safety features?

Cars manufactured after 1972 are required to be equipped with safety belts due to regulations aimed at enhancing vehicle occupant safety. The implementation of seat belt laws is intended to reduce the risk of injury in crashes by securely restraining passengers and drivers, thereby minimizing movement within the vehicle during a collision. This requirement has significantly contributed to lowering fatality and injury rates in car accidents, promoting safer driving practices.

While other options relate to various vehicle safety and functionality aspects, they do not hold the same legal requirement specifically for manufacturing post-1972 vehicles as safety belts do. For instance, air pollution control systems and functioning windshield wipers are essential for environmental compliance and visibility, but the direct mandatory inclusion of safety belts has had a profound impact on occupant protection legislated by automotive safety standards.