Volvo is the first car manufacturer in the world to equip passenger cars with three-point seat belts as standard. The Volvo PV 544 and P 120 models are delivered with the seat belt system as standard equipment for the 1970 model year (August 13, 1959).
The inventor and developer of this system is the Swede Nils Bohlin, who was hired by Volvo specifically as a safety engineer.
Fig.: Nils Bohlin demonstrates the seat belt at the wheel of a PV 544
The belt is routed from the B-pillar over the driver's pelvis to a bracket on the center tunnel and from there over the chest and shoulder back to the B-pillar. The belt can be fastened with one hand.
The Volvo P1800 model has been supplied with three-point seat belts since the start of production. Automatic retractable seat belts were introduced in the 1972 model year.
Since January 1, 1976, seat belts must be worn on the front seats of passenger cars in Germany, i.e. by the driver and front passenger. Since 1984, the seat belt requirement has also applied to rear seats.
