| April 21st, 2009 by admin |
|---|
Seat Belts: A Long History Of Driver Safety
Seat Belts: A Long History Of Driver Safety
When you climb into your vehicle, put the key into the ignition, and crank the engine, you probably click your seat belt into place without a second thought. Most of us do it by habit. We don’t consider – or even realize – the long history of development and testing that went into the device.
We know the harnesses save lives (over 10,000 each year by some estimates). And we learned the habit because wearing them is required by law. But, few motorists know how seat belts have played a major role in driver safety for decades.
Below, we’ll take a tour through their history beginning with their introduction by the Ford Motor Company. We’ll also explore some of the challenges the safety harness had to overcome along the way.
Developing An Historical Context
Ford Motor Company was the first U.S. car manufacturer to introduce them. In the mid-1950s, they offered them to new buyers as an option (federal legislation mandating their use did not exist at the time). The harnesses were available for front and rear passengers and were worn across the lap.
Three year later, Volvo debuted a 3-point harness. One strap traversed the lap while another crossed over one shoulder, offering more protection for drivers and passengers. Over the following decade, Saab and Volkswagen outfitted their own vehicles with 3-point harnesses. Automakers in the U.S., sensing impending federal legislation, also began equipping their models with 3-point seat belts. Sure enough, in 1972, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandated their use.
Today, nearly four decades later, the basic construction of the safety device remains the same. However, automakers are already testing the next evolutionary stage: the 4-point harness commonly worn by NASCAR drivers.
The Issue Of Comfort
One of the challenges that automakers have confronted over the last few decades is balancing the safety of a car’s occupants with their comfort. Most vehicles today are equipped with seat belts that are 2 inches in width. That width allows for a safe distribution of collision impact across a person’s body. However, a width of 3 inches would offer more protection and wider distribution of crash force.
The obstacle which prevents automakers from introducing 3-inch safety harnesses is comfort. In essence, wider seat belts would provide more protection, but they would be less comfortable to wear. Improved technology may offer a viable workaround.
Improved Technology Means Better Protection
Car manufacturers are now experimenting with harnesses that inflate in the event of a traffic collision. The device’s inflation would presumably absorb much of the crash force rather than distributing it across a person’s body. There is also hope that these inflatable harnesses can compensate for limitations in rear airbag technology. One thing is certain: the evolution of car seat belts continues. As it does, drivers and passengers will enjoy better protection on the road.
Subscribe to this Car Parts Plus feed
Other Interesting Car Articles
Posted in Car Tips | No Comments »
