144 bench seat babe photo, and Volvo seatbelt history

[matthew1]

144-front-seat.jpg (294.93 KiB) Viewed 5006 times

From Volvo sales literature ^ of the era

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cultur ... belt-1959/

In the 1950s, Vattenfall, the Swedish national power company, had a problem—its workforce was dying in car crashes. Two engineers with the power company, Bengt Odelgard and Per-Olof Weman, were given the task of making employees' cars safer. Their research led to the invention of the three-point seat belt by Volvo, Sweden's largest car company.

Based on research by the US Air Force, Odelgard and Weman came to the conclusion that a diagonal restraint, rather than a simple lap-belt, would vastly improve safety. In 1956, Vattenfall started fitting two-point across-the-chest safety belts to its cars, and soon after that, Volvo boss Gunnar Engellau became interested in the tech.

[RickHaleParker]

Even if your parents did not drive a Volvo there is a chance you are here because of Volvo.

"1972 – rearward-facing child safety seat

Remember those early images of astronauts lying on their backs during take-off to even out the forces? Well, that was the basic principle behind our rearward-facing child seats, to spread the load and minimize injury. Then we innovated in 1976 with the child booster seat and again in 1990 with an integrated booster built right into the seat."

VolvoChildSeat.jpg (57.06 KiB) Viewed 4992 times

[145express]

One can only wonder how many lifes seatbelts have saved..

[93Regina]

One can only wonder how many lifes seatbelts have saved.

Relative to "Global Warming," I'm not sure how to answer that question:-)

I suspect better designed highways have reduced traffic deaths more. Two lane highways had many head-on collisions, where on interstates with barriers, head-on accidents are rare.

Tire based accidents have been reduced greatly with lawsuits and government interventions.

Those who "create" statistics about seatbelts "saves" lives may be fudging their data, and/or using a flawed analysis; as I noted above, improvements in road safety (better highways, signage, etc) also affects these stats. Just like when fuel prices are high, traffic deaths are down..

Yes, seatbelt usage can save lives, but examining each accident is not done...gross data based. Seatbelts, like air bags, can also kill people.

[Rattnalle]

One can only wonder how many lifes seatbelts have saved.

Relative to "Global Warming," I'm not sure how to answer that question:-)

I suspect better designed highways have reduced traffic deaths more. Two lane highways had many head-on collisions, where on interstates with barriers, head-on accidents are rare.

Tire based accidents have been reduced greatly with lawsuits and government interventions.

Those who "create" statistics about seatbelts "saves" lives may be fudging their data, and/or using a flawed analysis; as I noted above, improvements in road safety (better highways, signage, etc) also affects these stats. Just like when fuel prices are high, traffic deaths are down..

Yes, seatbelt usage can save lives, but examining each accident is not done...gross data based. Seatbelts, like air bags, can also kill people.

A lot of accidents are examined though, especially where people die. Seat belts do a *lot* of good even at lower speeds. I'll see if I can find it later but there are studies of road deaths where people weren't wearing the belt comparing them to similar accidents were people were and there's quite a difference. Other safety systems such as air bags or crumple zones are designed with seat belts in mind, they don't work as well if you don't stay put in your seat. And you often don't without the belt.

Improved road design also does reduce the damage from accidents considerably but you've still got a lot of force involved when hitting a barrier instead of the oncoming car.

[93Regina]

From Volvo sales literature ^ of the era

Here's a high resolution photo

There is a lot of details showing in it...it must have come from original....unreal detail.

[93Regina]

there are studies of road deaths where people weren't wearing the belt comparing them to similar accidents were people were and there's quite a difference.

In my home state in US, a law enforcement officer must determine if occupants were wearing seat-belts, when a death(s) is involved. Then a newspaper may indicate if seat belts were buckled up. When a vehicle collides with a train, they still report. Seal belts, statistically speaking, do not save lives when vehicles collide with a moving train.
===========

On a different note,

" In fatal crashes in 2016, about 81 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed."

If hitting a solid brick wall at a higher speed, the deceleration will kill occupants. This above is generalized, and most likely, does not examine what would have happened if seat belt usage existed. A traffic officer just uses a standard form, and marks this/that box...then info in computerized.
===========

If you look at Figure 1
Percent of Passenger Vehicle Occupants Who Were Killed and Unrestrained, 2007-2016

Here again, speed and objects hit are not relevant to topic...just factual data that does not excude accidents where speed/objects would have killed occupants, regardless of seat belt usage.

[Rattnalle]

there are studies of road deaths where people weren't wearing the belt comparing them to similar accidents were people were and there's quite a difference.

In my home state in US, a law enforcement officer must determine if occupants were wearing seat-belts, when a death(s) is involved. Then a newspaper may indicate if seat belts were buckled up. When a vehicle collides with a train, they still report. Seal belts, statistically speaking, do not save lives when vehicles collide with a moving train.
===========

On a different note,

" In fatal crashes in 2016, about 81 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed."

If hitting a solid brick wall at a higher speed, the deceleration will kill occupants. This above is generalized, and most likely, does not examine what would have happened if seat belt usage existed. A traffic officer just uses a standard form, and marks this/that box...then info in computerized.
===========

If you look at Figure 1
Percent of Passenger Vehicle Occupants Who Were Killed and Unrestrained, 2007-2016

Here again, speed and objects hit are not relevant to topic...just factual data that does not excude accidents where speed/objects would have killed occupants, regardless of seat belt usage.

We do things a bit differently. We've got STRADA as a common data collection point for the government (https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/ro ... ik/STRADA/). Then there are people who study certain accidents in depth including checking the vehicles, the scene and such though I'm not sure what the criteria for selection is.

As for people who are ejected a large portion of those wouldn't have been wearing a seat belt, at least not a modern one with pre tensioner. In Sweden it would probably also correlate with drunk driving and other risk factors since seat belt usage is at almost 100 %.

[93Regina]

seat belt usage is at almost 100 %.

In previous post I made, there was an URL (PDF) cited....one of the tables showed % of seat belt usage. Each state has a population density, and a state like South Dakota would have a low population density. Without re-examining this information, I think in South Dakota seat belt usage was around 70%.

I live in a low density state, and drive mostly rural roads, where a person could drive in opposing traffic's lane, about 99% of drive-time, and not hit a vehicle. About only time I use seat belts is when driving in larger cities, and sometimes, when doing interstate highway driving.

Do note, I have about 200,000 miles (321,868 km) on motorcycles....

[June]

144-front-seat.jpg
From Volvo sales literature ^ of the era

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cultur ... belt-1959/

In the 1950s, Vattenfall, the Swedish national power company, had a problem—its workforce was dying in car crashes. Two engineers with the power company, Bengt Odelgard and Per-Olof Weman, were given the task of making employees' cars safer. Their research led to the invention of the three-point seat belt by Volvo, Sweden's largest car company.

Based on research by the US Air Force, Odelgard and Weman came to the conclusion that a diagonal restraint, rather than a simple lap-belt, would vastly improve safety. In 1956, Vattenfall started fitting two-point across-the-chest safety belts to its cars, and soon after that, Volvo boss Gunnar Engellau became interested in the tech.

That bench seat is beautiful! Moms earliest Volvo I can remember was a 142 grey with a black interior but buckets. Even the 164 had buckets. That seat looks so luxurious.

Though I think the S80 seat is the best Volvo made, had a bench option been available I would have preferred it over the bucket seats. Buckets are less convenient in my eyes if someone is in the passenger seat as that center space gives a place for the dog or a purse.

No question Volvo safety features have saved countless lives and debilitating injuries. Such as SIPS bags, Air Curtains, WIPPS to name a few more. June