The year was 1959. Times were simpler back then. People didn't give much thought to driving safety, despite it being a potentially fatal activity.

The lap belt was almost an afterthought, a little "take or leave it" precaution. Honestly, the things could do more harm than good, and few people bothered to wear them anyway.

They were uncomfortable.

There was one company among the many that saw safety as a priority. Volvo. Cars are driven by humans after all, and if human life is precious, then car safety must be a top concern. This was the philosophy laid out for the company by its founding fathers.

Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin knew that to save lives, he would need a simple solution: a safety belt that was effective, as well as comfortable and easy to put on.

He came up with one. The three-point seat belt we all use today.

Volvo recognized the important of this innovation to human safety. Rather than hold on to the patents, they allowed the technology to be used, royalty-free, by any car manufacturer that wished it.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved an average of 15,000 each year between 2004 and 2008. Volvo estimates their 3-point seatbelt has saved over a million lives worldwide since its creation in 1959.

Come to Volvo of Stamford and see how our new cars live up to their legacy as pioneers of safety.

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