17 Aug: The Man Who Invented Seat Belts
Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin patented the three-point seatbelt while working for Volvo, on 17th August 1959. Prior to that, cars only had lap belts – basically a single strap across your waist – if they were fitted at all.
Volvo made the patent open to all manufacturers, which boosted global take-up, and enhanced their Safety First brand image.
But manufacturers and governments alike were surprisingly hostile to seatbelts at first… Some car owners in the U.S. even had them removed, claiming they were uncomfortable or might trap them if the car caught fire or sank in water.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how Australia led the way with mandatory seatbelt laws, while in Britain Margaret Thatcher and Michael Foot were both opposed; reveal which country has STILL not legislated nationally for compulsory seatbelts; and recall the terrifying impact of public service ads like the infamous “Julie” campaign…
Further Reading:
• ‘How Did Nils Bohlin Change the Auto Industry? (Inventor of the Three-Point Seatbelt)’ (The Collector, 2024): https://www.thecollector.com/inventor-nils-bohlin-change-auto-industry/
• ‘US3043625A – Safety belt’ (Google Patents): https://patents.google.com/patent/US3043625A/en
• ‘How Do Seatbelts Work?’ (Real Engineering, 2022):