Jane Mansfield’s Legacy on the Road: How a Hollywood Tragedy Saved Lives

Jane Mansfield’s untimely death in 1967 was one of Hollywood’s darkest moments. Yet her legacy endures in a surprising way: through a life-saving feature on lorries and trucks seen every day across the UK and Spain. The post Jane Mansfield’s Legacy on the Road: How a Hollywood Tragedy Saved Lives first appeared on Mad Black Cat.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to a special trip through history where we take
a closer look at how the glitter of Hollywood and
the reality of road safety became forever linked. It's a
story that begins in tragedy, but continues in a legacy
that saves lives every single day, and a legacy that
is visible almost everywhere. Right now, I'm Mark Nolan, and

(00:24):
welcome aboard this history special from Mad Black Cat and
end three three two. When we talk about Hollywood icons,
Marilyn Monroe is often the first name people think of.
She was glamorous, adored, and tragically died at just thirty
six years old. But there was another star equally striking
in her day whose life ended just as suddenly and

(00:47):
just as tragically, Jane Mansfield. Unlike Monroe, whose legacy is
largely cultural, Mansfield's is both cultural and practical. In fact,
you've probably encountered her legacy this week, perhaps even today,
possibly without even realizing it. So let's start by rolling

(01:09):
back time and looking at the tragedy as it unfolded.
In June nineteen sixty seven, Jane Mansfield was traveling through
Louisiana late at night, heading towards a TV studio a
typically normal trip for any Hollywood star. However, this trip
was anything but typical for Mansfield, although it had happened
to many others countless times already, as the car she
was traveling in plowed into the rear of a lorry.

(01:32):
In the crash, the car wedged under the truck. The
top of her car torn away, instantly killing Mansfield and
two others in the vehicle. She was just thirty four
years old. It was a gruesome crash, but sadly not uncommon.
Cars striking the back of lorries often slid underneath with
devastating consequences. Safety experts realized something had to change, despite

(01:57):
so many fatalities previously. It was from that crash that
an a new safety measure was developed, the rear underrun guard,
which more commonly became known as the Mansfield Bar as
a direct nod to Jane. If you look at the
back of any large truck today, you will see the
Mansfield bar. It's a horizontal metal bar fitted beneath the

(02:19):
rear of lorries and trailers. Its purpose is simple to
stop cars from sliding underneath in a collision. That one
structural addition means the front of the car takes the impact.
Crumple zones are able to absorb the crash rather than
passengers being exposed to the full force. It doesn't look glamorous.

(02:41):
In fact, it's one of those details of road design
that most people never notice. But the Mansfield bar has
saved countless lives. It's now standard in the United States,
the UK, Spain, and much of the world. Every time
you see a lorry or a heavy goods vehicle on
the motorway, chances are you're looking straight at Jane Mansfield's legacy.

(03:04):
It's sobering, isn't it. Out of a shocking Hollywood tragedy
came a safety feature that has protected generations of drivers,
And in that sense, Jane Mansfield left something behind that
is far more tangible than fame alone. And before we go,
Jane isn't the only Hollywood actress with a surprising safety legacy.

(03:24):
Another screen legend, Mae West, also has her name immortalized
in everyday use. I won't spoil the cheeky details here
for those who don't know. You can google that if
you want to, but let's just say her legacy has
kept plenty of people afloat over the years. Thank you
for listening. If you'd like to read more, you'll find
the full article on the website mad blackcat dot com

(03:46):
and for driving in Spain, remember to check out and
follow N three three two do es. Until next time,
I'm mart Nolan. Keep an eye out for the Mansfield Bar,
but above all, stay safe on the road. Woods