Current Date: 01 Feb, 2026
{{entry.title}}

Who invented the three-point seat belt?

While employed by Volvo in 1959, Swidish engineer Nils Bohlin created the three-point safety belt. Volvo first had the design patented, but soon as they discovered its importance as a new safety measure, they made the patent open to everyone. Millions of lives were genuinely spared by Volvo’s gift to the world.

It’s hard to imagine that safety in automobiles used to be an afterthought in the era before lane-departure warning systems and radar-guided automatic braking. The three-point seat belt, the most significant safety innovation ever created, was given away by Volvo, a company whose reputation was built on selling safer cars.

Nils Bohlin, a Volvo engineer, invented the modern seat belt in 1959, according to the UK autos website Arnold Clark. Back then, seat belts were simple two-point waist restraints, and they frequently caused more harm than good in collisions.

Who invented the three point seat belt
Photo Credit: osteenvolvo.com

Former Saab aviation engineer Bohlin specialized in ejector seats. He created a seat belt that could be worn over the torso as well as the driver’s lap. The Volvo Amazon and Volvo PV544, which are both depicted to the right, were the first vehicles to feature the design in the Nordic market. In 1963, it arrived in the United States.

It was a ground-breaking creation, and just the patents alone could have made Volvo a fortune.

But why didn’t Volvo do that? They decided the patent was too significant to keep to themselves and gave it away as a result. In the narrative:

The three-point seatbelt’s widespread use is actually a result of Volvo opening up the patent so that any automaker could incorporate it into their design. They came to the conclusion that because the invention was so important, it should be given away for free rather than sold for a profit.

According to a citation from Volvo’s managing director Alan Dessell, “The decision to release the three-point seat belt patent was visionary and in line with Volvo’s guiding principle of safety.”

Bohlin persisted in pushing for ongoing safety enhancements like side impact protection and rear seat belts while working for Volvo until 1985. A few years after being honored with a gold medal by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science and being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, he passed away in 2002. Volvo claimed more than a million people have been saved by his seatbelt design globally four years ago.

So, if a three-point seat belt has ever saved your life, you can thank Bohlin for it as well as Volvo for prioritizing the safety of people over financial gain.

We assume it to be true. In fact, it’s become established in our lives that we hardly ever give it any thought. We enter our vehicles, fasten our Volvo seat belts, and pull away from our driveways without ever pausing to consider who created the seat belt.

The standard 3-point seat belt that comes with every one of our cars is a lifesaving safety feature that is so widely used that many manufacturers don’t even list it on their list of required safety features. Who would do that? Every new vehicle is expected to include a seat belt. Of course, every one of the brand-new Volvo vehicles we have available for purchase has a Volvo seat belt. And for good cause. In 1959, Volvo Cars offered the first vehicle with a seatbelt.

Volvo Seat Belt Saving Many Lives

No other safety feature comes close to saving as many lives as the Volvo seat belt, despite the fact that modern cars are loaded with driver-assist safety features and advanced airbag systems that help us keep our eyes on the road and our hands on the wheel. Perhaps the most significant automotive safety feature ever created is this one. And we do so each time we enter our brand-new Volvo V60 wagon.

How often should seat belts be replaced?

Because there is no easy way to predict how well an older seat belt will perform in a crash, it is recommended that the seat belts in your vehicle be inspected and replaced every 10-15 years. Contact our Volvo parts store for Volvo seat belt replacement.

Similar Stories
How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

Pepsi was first introduced as “Brad’s Drink” in New Bern, North Carolina, United States, in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his drugstore where the drink was sold. It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898, named after the digestive enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe.

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

Magic Johnson turned down a deal with Nike in 1979 that offered him 100,000 shares of stock and $1 for every pair of shoes sold. Instead, he chose Converse, which offered him $100,000 per year. Johnson lost about $5 billion by declining the Nike deal.

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

In 2008 Quaker parrot Willie alerted his owner Megan Howard when the little girl she was babysitting began to choke. Howard was in the bathroom when the parrot repeatedly yelled "Mama! Baby!" flapping his wings. Megan rushed and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving her life. Willie received the Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award.

Toddler Calls 911 Accidentally and Saves Dad's Life

Toddler Calls 911 Accidentally and Saves Dad's Life

A father from Florida collapsed on the floor during a medical episode. Fortunately, his toddler son dialed 911 by accident and saved his life. An officer from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office arrived quickly and administered first aid before transporting him to a nearby hospital.

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

In 2013, A young programmer offered a homeless man the choice between $100 cash or coding lessons. Leo Grand chose the lessons, and his first mobile app was “Trees for Cars," which helps drivers find carpooling partners.

Missing Masterpiece Discovered in the Background of ‘Stuart Little’

Missing Masterpiece Discovered in the Background of ‘Stuart Little’

In 2009, Gergely Barki, an art historian, was watching the film Stuart Little (1999) when he spotted an original long-lost painting used as a prop. Called Sleeping Lady with Black Vase, this painting was the work of Hungarian avant-garde painter Róbert Berény. The painting had been considered lost after World War II.

The world’s longest flight spent more than two months in the air

The world’s longest flight spent more than two months in the air

Roberts Timm and Jim Cook, two pilots, flew an aircraft for more than two months without landing in 1958. Matching the speed of a truck moving down the road to refuel. A mattress for sleeping, a small steel sink for personal hygiene, the removal of most interior fittings to reduce weight, and a basic autopilot were among the improvements.

The fearless Annie Lee Cooper

The fearless Annie Lee Cooper

Annie Lee Cooper was fired in 1963 after attempting to register to vote. She attempted it once more in 1965, but the sheriff ordered her to leave after prodding her in the neck with a club. She then punched him, causing him to fall to the ground. She was imprisoned before ultimately registering to vote. Following the passage of the Voting Rights Act, the sheriff was ousted and subsequently imprisoned for collaborating to transport drugs, but Annie Lee Cooper lived to reach 100 years old and bears her name to this day.

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first WWF persona was Rocky Maivia, a face (good guy). The audience rejected him due to his cheesy character, with chants of “Die, Rocky, die!”. After this, he became a heel (villain), referring to himself in the third person as “The Rock” and insulting the audience.

Billy Ray Harris: A Story of Kindness and Honesty

Billy Ray Harris: A Story of Kindness and Honesty

In 2013, a homeless man named Billy Ray Harris discovered a $4,000 engagement ring in this cup. A woman had dropped while giving him some change. He returned the ring to her two days later. To thank him for his honesty, she set up a fund with the goal of raising $4,000 for him. It earned more than $185,000.