You might remember Jayne Mansfield from her movies and photos during the 50s and 60s, but the blond beauty is also the person behind what is sometimes called the Mansfield Bar.

On June 29, 1967, Mansfield (view her photos here) sat in the front seat of a car that slammed into the rear of a big rig. The car slid under the truck, instantly killing all sitting in the front seats, including Mansfield.

Soon after, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed new standards for underride prevention guards, a requirement that was not fully implemented until 1998, according to the NHTSA. Back then, the government agency estimated fatalities from underride accidents each year in the U.S. at between 200 and 300.

The standard set a maximum height of 22 inches above the ground. Underride is a problem for large trucks and SUVs too, but automakers are improving designs to make them safer, says Jeff Mohr of Mohr Mfg, a company that makes energy absorbing spare safety bumpers.

Mansfield's life may have been cut short, but partly as a result of the way she died, the roads are a bit safer with the addition of Mansfield Bars.