Nils Bohlin, an engineer at Volvo, revolutionized safety belts when he designed the modern three-point seatbelt in 1959.
Before joining Volvo, Bohlin had experience working on aircraft ejection seats, where safety and quick-release mechanisms were critical, fueling the invention of the three-point belt.
This design, known as the “Bohlin belt,” incorporated three key elements: a lap belt over the pelvis, a diagonal belt across the chest, and a central buckle. Combining these elements provided comprehensive restraint for both the upper and lower body, effectively preventing passengers from being thrown forward or sideways during a collision.
Volvo recognized the groundbreaking nature of Bohlin’s invention and swiftly implemented the three-point seat belt, with the 1959 Volvo PV544 becoming the world’s first car to feature the three-point belt. In a remarkable act of altruism, they opened the patent for the three-point seat belt to the world free of charge.
