When did padded dashes become standard?

[Inventive1]

When did Chevrolet made padded dashes standard equipment in their trucks? Were the dash pads optional prior to that time?

[tlcrz1972]

Well for the most part padded dashed were a federal mandate. And IDK the exact date it was implemented. But '66 and earlier trucks didn't have padded dashed and '67 up had them.

And I found some info that some vehicles had them as early as 1956, but that was more of styling at that time, with maybe a slight idea of safety.

[franken]

I'll bet some searching with padded dash and NTSB will tell some stuff.

Notice the:
elimination of low hanging stuff to remove a kneecap at some point?
large diameter knobs in 67-72 truck so they can't poke out an eye?
high back seats in the early 70s to reduce neck injuries?

The government has been, and is a pain, but it sometimes mandates good, inexpensive changes...

[special-K]

Starting with the '67 body design,dash pads were all padded. Before '67,none were. This is on GM Trucks. A whole slew of new federal safety regs were mandated to begin in '68,mostly on cars. Side markers and padded dash on trucks,to name a couple. And also on cars,headrests,no knockoffs,padded steering wheel centers,to name few