When Were Seat Belts Invented And Made Mandatory In Cars?

Many of us can't imagine a car designed, made, and released to the public without seat belts. However, that was the reality of vehicles before the 1960s, prior to when seat belts were invented.

In the modern day, it's both legally required and a manufacturing standard for vehicles to be equipped with seat belts. After all, seat belts save lives, and the number of car crash fatalities has greatly reduced since the three-point seat belt was invented in 1959.

Even still, it was 1991 before all U.K. drivers and passengers were required to wear one. What sparked the change, and how did the first seat belt come into being? Read on to find out:

When Were Seat Belts Invented?

Contrary to popular belief, the original seat belt was actually invented before the car. Pioneered by English inventor George Cayley, this early seat belt looked very different from modern designs. In fact, it was intended to keep pilots from falling out of gliders.

The first patented seat belt came into being in 1885, after it was created by Edward J. Claghorn, an American. His model was intended to stop tourists from falling out of open-side New York taxis. After this, the seat belt gained popularity slowly, as cars became faster and more common.

Over the years, this seat belt (often referred to as a "lap belt") evolved to fulfil a greater aim: keeping the driver and all passengers in the car during turns or at high speeds. The overall design of cars up to 1930 did not lend itself to keeping people securely in place, especially at the higher speeds vehicles were growing to be capable of.

By the 1930s, the necessity of the lap belt was becoming clear, and manufacturers were urged to put them in their cars.

In 1959, the modern three-point seat belt was invented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin. His innovative cross-strap design was both safer and easier to use.

Since it could be buckled with one hand, these seat belts worked with the shape of the body. They also prevented drivers and passengers from lurching forward in the event of a sudden halt or crash, protecting their heads, and kept wearers from being thrown from the car. This is where the value of a modern seat belt came into focus.

When Were Seat Belts Made Mandatory?

Although a comfortable and easy-to-use seat belt was invented in 1959, it took until 1968 for seat belts to be made a mandatory feature in U.K. cars. Even then, the law only covered the fitting of seat belts in the driver's seat.

This legislation mandated that all cars manufactured post-1965 had to be fitted or retrofitted with seat belts. Although cars had to ship with seat belts, drivers were not yet required by law to wear them.

• Further seat belt legislation was introduced in 1983. This law required that all drivers and front-seat passengers in the U.K. wore seat belts.
• In 1987, rear seat belts became a required feature in all cars.
• In 1989, children in the back of cars were required to wear seat belts.
• Shockingly, however, it wasn't until 1991 that all passengers in the car were required to wear a seat belt.

The laws may have moved slowly, but frequent campaigns in the 1970s encouraged British drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts. This was a social movement, not a legal one, but it did have an impact.

Is It Ever Permitted To Not Wear A Seat Belt?

Seat belts are a part of life for all passengers and drivers in the modern day. Surprisingly, though, there are a few instances in which a seat belt is not considered mandatory for passengers, even now.

Buses

Buses designed for urban use with standing passengers are not required to provide seat belts. Since they generally only travel short distances and at low speeds, seat belts are not considered a necessity. In the event of a crash or a sudden application of brakes, buses aren't travelling fast enough for seat belts to be essential.

Trade Vehicles

The only other time a passenger doesn't need a seat belt is if they're investigating a fault in a trade vehicle.

Limited Driver Exemptions

There are limited seat belt exemptions for drivers. Seat belts aren't mandatory when:

• Reversing
• Driving a goods vehicle with stops less than 50 metres apart
• For licensed taxi drivers "plying for hire."

Stay Safe With Seat Belts

As well as using seat belts to keep you and your passengers secure, you can stay safe by conducting regular vehicle maintenance – on your car overall, but also on the seat belts directly. For a check-up, get in contact with your local Autofusion centre.