Cincinnati Magazine
January 12, 2021
Gather round, youngsters, and hear tell about a vintage Cincinnati tradition long consigned to the dustbin of history. I refer to the old Safety Lane, gone 40 years this year.
Every Cincinnati motorist of a certain age remembers entering the gantlet of automotive inspection with not a bit of nostalgia.
Photograph courtesy of National Archives
Time was when every automobile cruising Cincinnati thoroughfares was required to show a current sticker proving that it had passed an inspection affirming it was in a condition to be operated safely. A burned-out headlight, a silent horn, faulty brakes, and even shaky alignment earned a temporary tag, giving the driver a week to repair the problem.