Book 3, Question 16
Why Do Cars Have Seatbelts?
When a car stops fast, your body still wants to keep going. A seatbelt holds you to the seat, so you do not fly forward. It spreads the stopping force across your strong hips and chest!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 3
More fun facts
- Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seatbelt, with a lap belt plus a belt across the chest, in 1959.
- Volvo let other car makers use the design for free, because it was too important not to share.
- Bohlin's belt was anchored low beside the seat and made a V shape pointing toward the floor, and it stayed in place in a crash.
- Wearing a seatbelt cuts the risk of being killed or badly hurt in a crash by about half.
- Many modern belts have pretensioners that pull the belt tight in a crash, and force limiters that let it give a little to cushion you.
- Modern cars also have other safety features that soak up energy in a crash.
Sources: volvocars.com, volvocars.com, BBC, BBC
Questions kids ask
Who invented the seatbelt we use today?
Nils Bohlin, an engineer at Volvo, invented the three-point seatbelt in 1959, and Volvo shared the design with everyone.