Volvo's Revolutionary Three-Point Seatbelt: A Legacy of Safety

The Commitment to Safety

Volvo, a brand renowned for prioritizing safety in its vehicles, committed one of the most ethical acts in the automotive industry by not only creating the three-point seatbelt in 1959, but also by opening up the patent for other manufacturers to use. This decision favored human lives over corporate profits.

You might also be interested in: Volvo S60 Polestar 2016 First Drive

The Genius Behind the Invention

Created by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin, the seatbelts of the era were basic two-point waist restrainers, which often did more harm than good in a crash. Volvo’s Managing Director, Alan Desselss, remarked: “The decision to release the three-point seat belt patent was visionary and in line with Volvo’s guiding principle of safety.”

Innovative Design

Bohlin, a former aviation engineer at Saab, envisioned a simple yet effective solution which took the form of a combined lap belt with a diagonal belt across the chest. During his tenure at Volvo until 1985, he championed advancements in safety technology, including improvements in side impact protection and rear seat belts.

You might also be interested in: Volvo bags 2016 Brand Design Language award

Legacy and Impact

Honored for his ingenuity, Nils Bohlin received a gold medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science and was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame before passing away in 2002. On the 50th anniversary of the three-point seatbelt, Volvo announced that it had saved over a million lives worldwide and significantly reduced the number of serious injuries.

To this day, the three-point seatbelt remains the most significant contribution to safety in automotive history. Therefore, it can be said that there is a little bit of Nils Bohlin in every car.

Related Articles

Also See:

• Explaining Safety Technology: Lane assist
• Explaining Safety Technology: Forward Collision Warning