The Life-Saving Invention of Seatbelts: How and Why They Changed the World

By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)

Published March 14th, 2025

We buckle up without thinking twice, but have you ever wondered when and why seatbelts were invented? Turns out, this simple strap has a pretty fascinating history—one that has saved millions of lives since its creation.

The Early Days of Seatbelts

The idea of a seatbelt actually dates back to 1885, when an American named Edward J. Claghorn patented a basic version to help keep passengers secure in New York City taxis. But in those days, cars weren’t even a thing yet!

Fast forward to the early 1900s, and cars started becoming more common. The problem? They were basically death traps on wheels. Early cars had no safety features—no airbags, no crumple zones, and definitely no seatbelts. If you got into a crash, you were likely to be thrown from the vehicle.

The Game-Changer: The Three-Point Seatbelt

While some race car drivers and military vehicles started using basic lap belts in the 1940s and '50s, they weren’t very effective. It wasn’t until 1959 that a Swedish engineer named Nils Bohlin, working for Volvo, designed the three-point seatbelt—the one we use today.

What made Bohlin’s design so important? Instead of just strapping across your lap (which could cause serious internal injuries in a crash), his version secured both the upper and lower body, preventing people from being thrown forward. Volvo knew this was a life-saving invention, so instead of keeping the patent for themselves, they made it free for all car manufacturers to use.

Why Were Seatbelts Invented?

The answer is simple: To save lives.

As cars got faster and roads became busier, more and more people were dying in car crashes. Doctors and safety experts saw that passengers who were thrown from vehicles had little chance of survival. The solution? A restraint system that would keep people inside the car and reduce the impact of collisions.

When Did Seatbelts Become Mandatory?

Even though seatbelts were available in cars by the 1960s, most people didn’t want to wear them. Some found them uncomfortable, others thought they were unnecessary, and a few even believed they were more dangerous (which was totally false).

But as crash data started piling up, governments stepped in. In 1968, the U.S. required all new cars to have seatbelts, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that states started passing laws requiring people to actually wear them. Today, seatbelt laws exist almost everywhere—and they’ve saved countless lives.

Do Seatbelts Actually Work?

Absolutely! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wearing a seatbelt reduces your risk of dying in a crash by 45% in cars and 60% in light trucks. That’s huge.

Plus, modern seatbelts have gotten even smarter. Many cars now come with pretensioners (which tighten the belt before impact) and load limiters (which prevent too much force on your chest), making them even safer than before.

The Bottom Line

The seatbelt is one of the most important safety inventions ever. It might not seem flashy, but it has saved more lives than any other car feature. So next time you hop in a car, buckle up—not just because it’s the law, but because it could save your life. 🚗💨

The Life-Saving Invention of Seatbelts: How and Why They Changed the World

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The Life-Saving Invention of Seatbelts: How and Why They Changed the World