Claire L. Straith (1891–1958) was an American plastic surgeon.
Straith was a pioneer of
Automobile safety
Automotive safety is the study and practice of automotive design, construction, equipment and regulation to minimize the occurrence and consequences of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles. Road traffic safety more broadly includes roadw ...
. He described the cranial and facial injuries created by the
dashboard
A dashboard (also called dash, instrument panel or IP, or fascia) is a control panel (engineering), control panel set within the central console of a vehicle, boat, or cockpit of an aircraft or spacecraft. Usually located directly ahead of the ...
s and windshields in case of a car crash and advocated the use of
seat belt
A seat belt, also known as a safety belt or spelled seatbelt, is a vehicle safety device designed to secure the driver or a passenger of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop. A seat belt reduce ...
s and padded dashboards
According to Joel W. Eastman, author of ''Styling Vs. Safety: The American Automobile Industry and the Development of Automotive Safety 1900-1966'',
Straith gained the attention of
Walter P. Chrysler, and the knobs and handles of the 1937
Dodge
Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence, Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...
were designed for safety. Some of Straith's ideas were to be incorporated into the
1948 Tucker Sedan.
Notes and references
External links
The Straith Clinic
1891 births
1958 deaths
American plastic surgeons
Automotive safety pioneers
20th-century surgeons
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