Safety systems in the 1930s: the pedestrian catcher

Eight decades ago, this counted as safe

Euro NCAP wasn't around in the 1930s. In fact, the car safety assessment program only took off in 1997, way after the auto industry invented the pedestrian catcher also known as the safety scoop.

Looking like a weird crossover between an airbag and a hammock, the safety scoop was a safety feature coming to prevent distracted pedestrians from being rolled under a car's wheels and get run over.

Two Sheffield lads are credited for designing the safety scoop. Its design allowed it to fold inside the front bumper or replace it altogether.

It did have a downside, though. The driver had to stay alert, react quickly and flick a lever to deploy the system, so you can figure out why it didn't quite catch on.