World's most famous car safety innovation turned 50 in August

On Thursday August 13, 1959, the world's first car with standard-fit three-point safety belts - a Volvo PV544 - was delivered to the Volvo dealer in the Swedish town of Kristianstad. Over the next 50 years, the V-shaped three-point safety belt saved well over one million lives.

To this day, the three-point safety belt remains the car's single most important safety feature. It is the most widely used and most significant safety innovation in the automobile's more than 120 year long history.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• volvo. Cars
• Auto
• Seat
• Belt
• Seatbelt
• Three-point safety belt
• Nils Bohlin
• 1959
• first cars
• Swedish
• one million lives
• design
• 50 years
• saved
• safety
• Historical
• NHTSA

[CSIS25]

I like to thank Volvo for coming up with this idea... !

[cruiseman3211]

Thanks Volvo!!!

[peppersdog1]

the biggest safety advance would be to stop making cars the same fucking colour as the road most manufacturers colour charts look like a slate salesmans sample book

[PepsiTasteLikeCoke]

Proud to be swede!

Volvo ftw

[polygamous1]

simple have the ignition switch connected via the seat belt u don't belt up u r car wont start? n add an audible warning why it wont start i know some will by pass it but then manufacturers have done all they can

[TheVolvoFan]

I like the belt reminder in the volvo 200-series the most. you can never get used to it, the bright light and the ticking sound it makes, makes me put on my seatbelt even when the car is just warming up.

[elastohm]

It saved my girlfriends and my life too once!

[Inmate527]

So this is the reason I got a ticket last week?

[arivera3426]

I love my Volvo XC70 Ocean Race Edition!!!