cenews – July 27, 2024. In the 1970s, the car industry became increasingly aware of safety. For example, Opel equipped all vehicles with seat belts as standard from 1973. Compulsory seat belts followed three years later. And in 1974, Opel experimented with the OSV 40 safety vehicle. The near-series study based on the Kadett C survived a frontal collision at 40 miles per hour, i.e. just under 65 km/h, and thus provided important information for the further development of safety.