⏰ when

When was the three-point seat belt invented?

inventionssafety

Quick Answer

The modern three-point seat belt was invented by Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin at Volvo and introduced in 1959.

The Full Story

Earlier cars sometimes had two-point lap belts, which could cause serious internal injuries in crashes. Bohlin, who had previously designed ejection seats for Saab aircraft, created a V-shaped belt that crossed the chest and lap and anchored at a low point beside the seat. Volvo introduced it in its cars in 1959, starting in Sweden. Recognising its life-saving importance, Volvo made the patent freely available to other car makers. Seat belts are estimated to have saved more than a million lives worldwide.

Key Facts

1.Invented by Nils Bohlin at Volvo
2.Introduced in 1959
3.Volvo shared the patent freely

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"The invention that saved a million lives"