National Seat Belt Day is observed annually on November 14. More than 46,000 people are killed in car accidents in the U.S. every year, and an estimated 4.4 million people sustain injuries that require medical attention. Direct medical costs add up to more than $300 million. Using safety belts helps save lives and minimize the risk of serious injuries. It’s a simple act we can all practice, whether you’re a passenger or the driver. National Seat Belt Day was created to raise awareness and encourage people to wear seat belts.
Seat belts have been around since the 19th century. Edward J. Claghorn received the first U.S. patent for safety belts but his design was not intended for cars. In the 1930s, physicians recommended lap belts in their vehicles and suggested manufacturers do the same in their models. Lap belts were used in public transport like streetcars, preventing passengers from flying out of their seats during accidents.
The first vehicle in the U.S. to offer seat belts as a safety option was the Nash Rambler, back in 1950 when seat belts were still a novelty. Despite growing evidence that they helped save lives and reduce injuries, critics still resisted their use, claiming they were ineffective and may trap passengers if their cars were on fire or submerged in water. In 1958, Saab became the first vehicle manufacturer to fit seat belts as standard features. One year later, Nils Bohlin — Volvo’s first chief safety engineer — patented the three-point seat belt. It improved the rudimentary two-point seat belt, which sometimes did more harm than good in accidents.
After making the three-point seat belt standard in Sweden, Volvo opened up the patent so other car manufacturers could adopt this essential safety feature in their models. By 1968, seat belts were a standard requirement in all U.S.-manufactured vehicles. Today, seat belts are a valued safety mechanism in cars, helping to save thousands of lives and several hundred million dollars in medical costs.
