One of the main elements of protection in a vehicle during an accident is the seat belt. It is found in all models without exception, purchased at car dealerships or at online auctions where wrecked cars for sale. This initially simple device has saved the lives of millions of people and continues to do the same right now. If you want to know who invented the seat belt and how it developed, then quickly start reading our article.

19th century

The seat belt became an important invention of the 19th century. Its author, George Cayley, was a famous engineer and aviator, so he used the new product to secure pilots in his own gliders. The inventor did not patent his development, which is why many consider Edward J. Claghorn to be the creator of the seat belt. The American received a patent for his invention in 1885. It was from this time that the official history of seat belts began.

The new development was used for New York taxi passengers. It increased their safety and made it possible to remain in their seats even during sudden braking. Due to the minimal number of cars on the roads, accidents were rare at that time. In this regard, seat belts were not very popular. By the end of the 19th century, owners of various vehicles practically forgot about them and used them extremely rarely. However, everyone who took to the air on gliders and airplanes protected themselves with such belts every time.

20th century

In the 20th century, seat belts underwent many transformations. Serious attention was drawn to them in the 1930s. At this time, a group of American medical researchers released a report on the effect of a relatively new safety element on the condition of a person involved in an accident. It highlighted the effectiveness of seat belts in preventing serious injuries. In 1954, seat belts became mandatory for cars participating in various competitions. Despite this, ordinary drivers were in no hurry to overpay for the installation of this protection element.

In 1958, Nils Bohlin introduced his new three-point safety belt. It turned out to be so effective that a slightly modified version is still used today. After the appearance of such a new product, many automakers began to more actively promote the idea of ​​​​using it. Thanks to this, in the USA in 1966, a decision was made to make this protective element mandatory on all vehicles. By 1975, seat belts had become mandatory in most other countries around the world. For the next 25 years, seat belt use was actively promoted on television and radio, and various laws were passed to impose restrictions on those who refuse them. All this has turned the main element of safety into a mandatory attribute of any car.

21st century

In the 21st century, numerous ideas began to appear to create an even more effective and easy-to-use seat belt. Their authors were most often representatives of well-known automobile companies. Each of the proposed options was original and made it possible to increase the safety of the driver and passengers. Thanks to this, today vehicle owners have the opportunity to choose the most suitable type of seat belts and achieve maximum protection, reliability, and personal comfort. To understand which one is optimal, you need to study the characteristics of the car in detail. To do this, just enter the VIN code on the website https://www.clearvin.com/ and get maximum data about a particular vehicle.

The seat belt is one of the best automobile-related inventions of man. It saves several hundred lives every day and enables thousands of people to avoid serious health problems. Throughout its history, the seat belt has been constantly improved, becoming better every year. This process does not stop today, so in the near future the main elements of car protection will be even more effective and will be able to save millions of people around the planet.