The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Street Rod Association and/or StreetScene Magazine.
Seatbelts – Do You use Yours?
B y looking at the history and evolution of seatbelts, we can better appreciate the impact this seemingly ordinary invention has had on society— and why we should continue to use and improve them. The story begins in the mid-19th Century, when British aviation pioneer George Cayley added safety har- nesses to his glider designs. These early concepts paved the way for what we now know as seatbelts. Fast forward to 1959, when Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin developed the three-point seat- belt—the design still standard in vehicles today. Before that, seat- belts were often little more than simple straps meant to keep pas- sengers from bouncing out of cars on rough roads. Bohlin’s invention transformed them into a true life- saving technology. Interestingly, Nash Motors was the first U.S. car- maker to offer seatbelts in 1948
but at the time they weren’t popu- lar, and few people used them. In 1968, federal law required all new cars to include both lap and shoulder belts in the front seat. Oddly, the rule didn’t specify the three-point design, so many automakers installed lap and shoulder belts separately. Even then, most drivers still didn’t buck- le up. A common myth claimed it was safer to be thrown from a car than to remain inside during a crash. At the same time, manufac- turers worried that adding too many safety features would make people think their cars were unsafe in the first place. Believe it or not, seatbelts even made it all the way to the Supreme Court. In 1977, after a proposed law requiring interlock mechanisms (which prevented a car from start- ing unless the seatbelt was buck- led) was struck down, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) issued a new rule—automakers had to pro- vide some form of passive restraint—something that worked automatically without driver action and could protect passen- gers in a 35-mph crash. That regu- lation was all but certain—until Ronald Reagan won the presiden- cy in 1980 on a platform of dereg- ulation. Once in office, he opposed forcing automakers to comply, and the requirement was rolled back. But insurance compa- nies had their own stake in pas- senger safety and took the case to court. In 1983, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, ordering the Department of Transportation to reinstate the requirement. Seatbelts have come a long way. Today, they are a proven life- saving technology, preventing tens of thousands of deaths every year. As vehicles continue to evolve with new safety features, one thing remains clear—the seatbelt isn’t going anywhere. For car enthusi- asts, especially those with pre-1968 vehicles, it’s worth noting that seat- belts weren’t required in those cars—and many still don’t have them. During our ‘Plus 4’ part of the Safety Inspections we always check for seatbelts but not having them won’t prevent you from get- ting a Safety 16 or Safety 23 stick- er. That said, both of our street rods are equipped with three-point belts, and we never drive without buckling up. I hope you enjoyed this quick trip through seatbelt his- tory. Remember the words we’ve all heard for years—Buckle Up—it’s the law, and it just might save your life. Carol Barnhill Arkansas State Inspector
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•Fast and smooth engagement •Push to Connect, no pull ring
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78 NOVEMBER 2025
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