Unlike modern cars that run on gasoline, the first cars ran on children. That's right - the operator (no "drivers" then) would shovel little Timmy and little Becky into the oven to heat the kettle to produce steam. Not only was the fuel cheap back in 1812, it was abundant, as these were the days before family planning. A good car would get 30 mpc (miles per child)
As excess children became scarce, operators turned to wood, which was also plentiful, and didn't scream as loudly when tossed in a fire.
In the 1960's, the internal combustion engine changed everything. They were much faster than steam-driven cars, but they suffered numerous incidents of "external combustion", when the internal combustion wouldn't stay on the inside. One such explosion wiped out Halifax Harbour.
Seat belts were only invented in the 70's as a means or restraint for federal inmates. After a jail bus crash, in which only the inmates lived, seat belts became mandatory in all cars.
In the future, all cars will run on the power of political promises, and in the event of a collision, the passenger compartment will instantly fill with styrofoam packing pellets. Those pellets can't just go in the landfill.
I hope this helps. I researched it myself.
