Seatbelts By rlaustins Jan 1, 1849 Volvo invents first safety belt http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_seat_belts.htm Jan 1, 1885 First US Patent for Automobile Seatbelts given to Edward J. Claghorn http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_seat_belts.htm Jan 1, 1910 "Lap-belt" resembling modern seat-belts first installed in a US Army Airplane http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9074956 Period: Jan 1, 1930 to Jan 1, 1940 Doctors begin installing seat belts in their own cars; They urge manufacturers to put them in all cars. http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.htm Period: Jan 1, 1950 to Jan 1, 1960 Seat belts were being installed in cars by manufacturers http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9074956 Jan 1, 1955 California required state approval of all seat belts before use or sale http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html Jan 1, 1959 Volvo invents 3 pt seat belt http://www.katc.com/news/four-beats-three1/ Jan 1, 1960 New York considers and rejects the bill again http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html Jan 1, 1961 New York requires seat belt anchors in the front seats of all new cars http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html Feb 1, 1961 Wisconsin requires seat belts in front seats http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html ) Jan 1, 1965 All manufacturers install lap belts in front seats http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html Jan 1, 1969 Volvo provides 3 pt seat belts in rear seats http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html Period: Jan 1, 1970 to Jan 1, 1980 3 pt seat belt became the common type of seat belt used in cars http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9074956 Jan 1, 1974 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires 3 pt seat belts in the front seats of cars http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.htm Jan 1, 1985 New York makes seat belt use mandatory both in front and rear seats http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html Feb 1, 2010 New York considers and rejects a bill requiring seat belts installed in all new cars sold in state http://www.seatbeltdefects.com/history/index.html