When I was growing up, car or truck the dash board was metal not padded plastic. Children rode standing up in the front seat no matter who was driving. Mom or Pop. Myself and my friends all seemed to survive. We rode on running boards or in pick up beds. IF we met a policeman (don't recall any police women back then) they would wave. Not engage in pursuit.
P.S. "What if" doesn't matter. Nothing happened.
P.S. "What if" doesn't matter. Nothing happened.