The Invention of the Seat Belt on February 10, 1885! How It Became the Most Essential Vehicle Safety Feature – Know the Details ????
Today, cars come equipped with numerous important safety features. Various technologies are used to ensure the safety of both passengers inside the car and pedestrians outside.
Modern cars are even designed with advanced systems to detect and protect pedestrians walking along the road. However, if we look back at the first safety feature introduced in cars, it was none other than the seat belt.
While today’s cars boast advanced features, wearing a seat belt remains mandatory during travel. According to the Motor Vehicle Act, traveling without a seat belt is a punishable offense.
But do you know when and how the seat belt was invented? How did it become the most important safety feature in vehicles? Let’s explore this in detail…
The first seat belt was invented by an English engineer named George Cayley for use in airplanes to secure passengers and pilots. However, it was later adopted for cars. The seat belts developed by Cayley in the late 19th century were quite simple.
Although basic, they were effective in keeping passengers securely in their seats during sudden collisions. Interestingly, George Cayley did not file a patent for his seat belt design.
Later, on February 10, 1885, an American named Edward J. Claghorn received the official patent for the invention of the seat belt. Thus, Edward Claghorn is credited with creating the first seat belt used in vehicles.
The seat belt designed by Claghorn in 1885 was initially used in New York City taxis. Later in 1946, Dr. C. Hunter Shelden contributed significantly to the automotive industry, conceptualizing the retractable seat belt.
This means it has been almost 140 years since the first seat belt patent was filed. Back in 1885, horse-drawn carriages were commonly used in New York City to show tourists around.
Edward J. Claghorn patented the seat belt specifically to protect passengers riding in these carriages. This gave him the first rights to the seat belt design for horse-drawn carriages.
That first registered seat belt featured straps, hooks, and buckles. It was referred to as a “safety belt.” In the early 20th century, the development of seat belts began in earnest.
The focus shifted towards protecting passengers not only during accidents but also from jolts while traveling on rough roads. Initially, seat belts were 2-point seat belts, providing safety only around the waist—similar to those still found on airplane passenger seats.
As demand for seat belts grew, especially during the automotive revolution, many people preferred buying cars equipped with seat belts. However, for a long time, car companies offered seat belts only as an optional feature rather than as standard equipment.
By the 1930s and 1940s, data began to show that seat belts were preventing numerous fatalities. As a result, the popularity of seat belts increased significantly in the 1950s.
It’s worth noting that seat belt designs have continuously evolved. Today, we have 4-point, 5-point, 6-point, and even 7-point seat belts, primarily used in racing cars to provide maximum safety.