Boy you are real negative about anything in the past. You’re sending me on a real soapbox tear.
What has a bench seat to do with safety? An individual bucket seat is going to save you?
As later poster posited, what about a seatbelt? Especially now with 3-pt belts.
Oh, and one does not have to have a strict “bench” seat - many are and have long been divided into sections as best of both worlds.
Sliding? Ridiculous. Most of my autos my whole life have been “bench”, and nary a slide even in the Ford pick-up trucks which had firmer seats than our Town Cars.
And HUGE problems with “bucket” seats - they are made for certain sizes, and one size does NOT fit all. They have also encouraged this crap of permanent giant “consoles” down the middle by the driver, which also encroach on my comfort level (and I do include maneuverability for driving). All while cars get smaller and even I get crunched between the door and that “convenient” console.
Guess what? I’m a woman. I have a purse, and it’s not that large. These damn individual seats, because we must be like a “cockpit” it’s so cool! - enabled the idea it must be a cockpit so build up the cup-holder console to make you feel like you’re Top Gun. So I have NOWHERE TO PUT MY PURSE! Only if I’m alone, no one in the passenger side, can I plop it over on that seat. Otherwise it must be underfoot, in the way of foot movement or getting tangled. (We bought a GMC last year but I had to compliment the Ford Edge for at LEAST having a deliberate pocket under the driver seat for stowage). I am not putting it in the back seat, because God forbid a nervous cop pulls me over and shoots because I’m suspicious for reaching all the way to the back!
And with “bench” (i.e., full width), I can slide myself to either side when it is convenient (never mind easier to pull things from the other side with me). And believe me, there are many times we have wished we could just slide to the passenger side. Never mind fitting one more person in.
Oh, let me count the ways. Bucket seats are far overrated.
OK, off the box!