It’s hard to imagine a time before seatbelts. But on Sept. 25, 1961, Wisconsin became the first state to require seatbelts in the front seats of cars in all models built in and after 1962.
Seat belts had been around, if infrequently used, since the 19th century. Many street cars had lap belts in the 1930s, but few people used them. These early lap belt models kept passengers from flying out of the car but did nothing to protect their heads or torsos.
The Wisconsin born Nash Motors became the first company to offer seatbelts in 1949. Charles W. Nash started the company in 1916 after purchasing the Kenosha-based Thomas B. Jeffery Company, a bicycle-turned-automobile factory. Nash opened plants in Milwaukee and Racine as well as in Arkansas; and by the 1920s, Nash was one of the nation’s bestselling car companies.
Seatbelts aroused heated debate despite increasing scientific research in the 1940s and 1950s affirming their value in saving lives. Among the arguments put forth against seatbelts was that they could cause internal injuries; that they prevented easy escapes from cars submerged in water; and that devices frequently failed. All were disputed by researchers but opposition remained fierce.
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Some opponents argued the decision to use a seatbelt should be personal rather than legal. A letter to the Appleton Post Crescent in 1964 stated, "As long as the life risked is his own, I believe the individual should decide whether or not the use of safety belts is wise."
Another letter in the Wisconsin State Journal in 1957 argued the value of seat belts had yet to be proved, especially in cases of keeping people from "being thrown out of the car." Door latches, wrote Sam of Madison, "can accomplish this without preventing speedy escape from an auto going into a stream or catching fire, which are not infrequent events." Some car owners cut the seat belts out of their cars.
It wasn't until the late 1950s that an engineer at Volvo devised the three-point seat belt most of us are familiar with today. This new model secured the chest and hips with a single belt. These seatbelts became mandatory in all new United States vehicles in 1968.
cyrusm on July 6th, 2020 at 17:35 UTC »
My grandpa was on the other side of the argument. He wanted 5 point harnesses made standard. He used to rig up all of his cars with seat-belts long before they were legally required. He was a mechanic and a racer though, so that influenced him a lot.
TroyMcClure8184 on July 6th, 2020 at 16:59 UTC »
My Granddad: “Seat belt? No way I want to be stuck in this car. What if it catches fire? Nope, if we get into an accident, I want to be thrown clear of the accident”
Edit: He said this in the 80s. I would be sitting in the front seat while he drove with his knee and made a Bloody Mary in his lap.
brock_lee on July 6th, 2020 at 16:13 UTC »
Guy across the street from me bought a new car sometime in the 1970s. Drove it home, parked it, and went to show friends and it wouldn't start. He was out there agonizing for like an hour on why the car would not start. Finally, they realized this car would not start if the driver's seat belt was not fastened. I don't know if that was a "feature" that could be disabled.