Seat belts help save countless lives every year. They are the primary form of safety in the event of an accident and is required by almost every state in the United States to be buckled in. Every vehicle (except buses) has seat belts in them, making it a common feature in a car. However, when was the seat belt invented?
In 1959, an engineer at Volvo named Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seat belt. This was during a time where the driver wore harnesses instead of seat belts. They were fitted in cars and took the form of a two-point waist restraint. Sadly, the two-point system did more damage than good at times.
Once invented, Volvo released the patent to any manufacturer to use in their vehicle design. As a result, the three-point seat belt was widely adopted. Volvo did this because they saw that the three-point seat belt has more potential as a free life-saving tool rather than something they can make a profit off of. Alan Dessel, Volvo’s managing director said: “The decision to release the three-point seat belt patent was visionary and in line with Volvo’s guiding principle of safety.”
Since 1959, when the three-point seat belt was invented, the system saved millions of lives across not just the United States, but the world. It also prevented serious injuries, unlike the old two-point seat belts.
Seat belts reduce your chance of injury or death by 50 percent in the event of an accident. As a result, this invention has become the most successful contribution to the safety of motor vehicles in history.
Do not neglect your seat belt. Make sure you will always be protected by your seat belt in the event of an accident. If your seat belt needs repair or replacement, visit SafetyRestore.com to get started. Safety Restore is a professional seat belt repair service. They can help get you back on the road safe and at peace knowing you are protected.
