The Three-Point Safety Belt
Nils Bohlin was an engineer for Volvo whose innovation saved an untold number of lives. In 1959, he invented the three-point safety belt. The cross-strap design made the seat belt not only much easier to use but also a great deal safer for the wearer. The change was met with significant public resistance. Now, it is hard to imagine that cars were once sold without them.
Volvo is known for making driver and passenger safety a crucial part of its brand. At the time the three-point belt was invented, Gunnar Engallau was the president of the company. He, too, was an engineer, and he had suffered the loss of a relative in an automobile accident. The death was partly due to the two-point safety belt design, which did not restrain the torso, and left wearers vulnerable to chest, head, and spinal injuries during a collision. Additionally, the two-point belts were uncomfortable, so many vehicle occupants did not wear them at all – rendering them completely useless. His personal loss resulted in Engallau making it his mission to come up with a better design, and he hired Nils Bohlin away from rival automaker Saab. Shortly thereafter, the company would invent the three-point seatbelt design and become the first auto manufacturer to make it standard equipment.
Change is Met With Public Resistance
Illustrating a phenomenon that should not be surprising to any of us in light of reactions to government recommendations with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new safety feature was first met with heavy resistance from the public. People claimed they would have a better chance of surviving if they were thrown from the car, rather than being strapped in the seatbelt. A comment refrain was that being strapped in was “scary.”
Volvo conducted extensive testing and hundreds of experiments. They published findings from tens of thousands of collisions to convince the public of the new safety belt’s efficacy. Historically, scientific data has not proven sufficient to persuade a large number of people to change their behavior. Mass adoption of innovation often requires a cultural paradigm shift.
When Did Seat Belts Become Mandatory?
In December 1984, the state of New York adopted the United States’ first mandatory seat belt law. Arguments against the law included that seat belts would cause fatalities to rise because they would encourage careless driving. Through persistence, science ultimately prevailed. Seat belt usage became not only a legal requirement throughout the country, but gradually it became a cultural norm. Many people owe their lives to this slow paradigm shift.
The three-point seat belt has saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Additionally, it has prevented injuries or lessened the severity of car accident injuries for millions of people. Nearly everyone uses a seatbelt at this point, making the three-point safety belt one of the most (if not the most) important safety innovations in automobile history.
Resistance to Change Continues Today
In keeping with their dedication to saving driver and passenger lives, Volvo has recently announced that all of their new vehicles will include a speed cap of 112 mph. The company also intends to roll out features designed to prevent impaired driving. Given the historical reaction to their three-point safety belt, the company is not surprised by the public resistance that the news of these new safety features has generated.
Watch the YouTube video: Volvo reminds the public it once resisted using a seat belt.
Natomas Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello. Thanks for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a Natomas personal injury lawyer. Even with all of the modern automobile safety features, injuries from car accidents still occur. If a negligent driver has caused you to sustain injuries in a crash, my firm can help. Call to speak with one of our injury lawyers or case managers at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We are happy to provide free and friendly legal advice. If you prefer, you can also fill out our online contact form.
Photo Attribution: cfarnsworth on Pixabay
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