Seatbelts

Every day, when we get into our cars, we switch on the ignition and automatically reach over our shoulder for our seat belt. This engrained safety is well deserved because of how much the seat belt protects us.

Seat belts act as a restraint in case of an accident. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in the event of an accident. In 2014, more than half of the people between the ages of 13-44 died upon the impact of a crash because they were unrestrained. Let’s take a closer look at the history of seatbelts. 

Seat belts were initially invented for airplanes in the late 1800s. It wasn’t until 1954 when racecar driving came around. This became the first time seat belts were enforced to be worn on the track, yet this was still optional for casual drivers. By 1966, all cars were required to have seatbelts, however, there was still no strict enforcement. It took about 40 years for every U.S. state to make wearing a seat belt required by law. 

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