When did they start adding seat belts to cars?
Seat belts began appearing in automobiles in the early 20th century as simple lap belts, with the modern three‑point design becoming standard in the late 1950s and broad regulatory adoption following in the late 1960s. Today, seat belts are a universal safety feature in most markets and are widely enforced as part of road safety campaigns.
Early development and the three-point belt
The following timeline highlights the key moments in how seat belts evolved from rudimentary restraints to the widely used three-point system that dominates today.
- 1920s–1930s: Early lap belts appear in a limited number of cars as optional equipment, mainly in luxury or racing-oriented models; these belts offer only basic restraint and are not universally adopted.
- 1959: Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin designs the modern three-point seat belt, combining a lap belt with a diagonal shoulder strap. Volvo makes it standard in its cars, marking a major leap in occupant protection.
- 1960s: Other automakers begin offering three-point belts or improve lap belts; safety advocates press for wider adoption and regulation, though belt use remains far from universal.
These early steps established the essential concept of a combined lap-and-shoulder restraint, setting the stage for regulatory action and broader industry adoption in the following decades.
Regulatory milestones and broader adoption
This section outlines the policy shifts and market changes that accelerated the spread of seat belts from optional features to standard equipment across many countries.
- 1968: The United States introduces FMVSS 208, which requires that new cars be equipped with seat belts for drivers and front-seat passengers, marking a turning point in mandatory safety equipment.
- 1970s–1980s: Belt usage expands beyond the front seats in many markets, with additional requirements for rear seats and continued improvements in belt design, such as the addition of shoulder belts and pretensioners in some models.
- 1990s–present: Global adoption broadens, with more jurisdictions requiring belts for all seating positions, higher compliance through reminders and enforcement, and ongoing enhancements to belt technology (pretensioners, load limiters, advanced anchor systems).
These regulatory milestones helped normalize seat belts as a standard safety feature and driven widespread consumer acceptance and routine use.
Current state and impact
Today, seat belts are a near-universal safety feature in most vehicles and markets. High usage rates are supported by laws, enforcement, and public safety campaigns, while ongoing innovations continue to improve protection in a crash.
Across many countries, bills and campaigns emphasize belt use for all occupants, including children and rear-seat passengers, reinforcing the role of belts as a foundational element of automotive safety.
Summary
Seat belts entered cars as basic lap restraints in the early 20th century, with the modern three-point belt introduced by Volvo in 1959. The United States set a watershed moment in 1968 by mandating belts in new cars, a policy that spurred global adoption and ongoing improvements. From there, belts evolved into a standard feature worldwide, supported by technology, law, and public health initiatives, contributing to substantial reductions in automotive fatalities and injuries.
What year car doesn't need seatbelts?
According to California law, cars manufactured before 1965 are exempt from the requirement to have seat belts. However, for vehicles produced after 1965, seat belt usage is mandatory for all passengers, regardless of the vehicle's age or model year.
When did seatbelts become mandatory in the USA?
While front-seat seat belts were mandated for installation in all new US cars starting in 1968, the mandate for passengers to actually wear them was phased in through state laws, with New York being the first to pass a law in 1984 and all states having laws for front-seat occupants by 1996. The 1968 federal mandate required the installation of lap and shoulder belts in new vehicles, but actual usage was not required by law for many years after.
- 1968: The federal government requires all new passenger cars to be equipped with lap and shoulder belts in the front outboard seats.
- 1984: New York becomes the first state to pass a law requiring seat belt use by occupants.
- 1980s–1990s: Other states follow New York's lead, with many implementing their own mandatory seat belt use laws.
- 1996: All states have laws requiring seat belt use for drivers and front-seat occupants, with the exception of New Hampshire, which passed its law in 1998.
Did cars in the 1950s have seat belts?
Seat belts were available on some automobiles by the mid-1950s, but most motorists were indifferent to their safety benefits. Even after federal regulations required seat belts in American cars starting with the 1968 model year, many drivers and passengers simply refused to use them.
What year did cars start coming with seat belts?
1955
The first modern three-point seat belt (the so-called CIR-Griswold restraint) commonly used in consumer vehicles was patented in 1955 U.S. patent 2,710,649 by the Americans Roger W. Griswold and Hugh DeHaven. Saab introduced seat belts as standard equipment in 1958.
