The modern three-point seat belt was invented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin in 1959. Before this, seat belts were primarily two-point designs that could cause injury in crashes.
Bohlin's design, which crossed both the torso and lap, was a game changer in automotive safety. Volvo, recognizing its life-saving potential, gave away the patent to all manufacturers for free, prioritizing public safety over profit.
Since its introduction, this seat belt design has saved over one million lives worldwide. In the United States, seat belts became mandatory in all vehicles in 1968.
