How a Simple Invention Revolutionized Car Safety and Saved Millions of Lives

The Life-Saving Innovation: Nils Bohlin’s Seat Belt Design

January 5, 2025
1 min read

In 1958, while working for Volvo, Nils Bohlin designed a groundbreaking safety feature that would go on to save millions of lives—the three-point seat belt. Although lap seat belts had been in use for some time, Bohlin’s invention represented a significant technological leap with its straightforward design. He received a patent for the design the following year.

Initially met with resistance from drivers who resented being told what to do, the three-point seat belt eventually became a standard feature in vehicles worldwide. While the exact number of lives saved remains unknown, it is estimated to be in the millions.

Buckle up!

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