Once common in large American sedans, the front bench seat allowed a car to technically seat six people—three in the front and three in the back. While this might sound useful for a big family, it was a catastrophic failure from a safety perspective. It was nearly impossible to integrate modern, effective safety equipment like centrally-located airbags and shoulder-harness seat belts. The bench seat also forced the gear selector onto the steering column (column shifter). The switch to individual front bucket seats allowed for the creation of the center console, which is now critical for storage, climate controls, and enhanced safety features.
