In the mid-1800s, when the car was in its infancy, governments enacted strict laws to ensure they did not cause harm to pedestrians or frighten animals.

One of these was Britain's Locomotive Acts, or Red Flag Acts, which restricted speeds of the earliest cars to 3.2kmh in the city (walking pace). In the countryside, the limit was 6.4kmh. And those hauling multiple wagons had to be led by a man carrying a red flag. The United States had similar laws.