Kolmipistevyöt

Kolmipistevyöt, also known as three-point seat belts, are a type of automotive safety restraint system. They consist of a strap that goes over the occupant's lap and a second strap that crosses the chest and shoulder. This design distributes the force of impact across the strongest parts of the body, significantly reducing the risk of serious injury or fatality in a collision.

The concept for the three-point seat belt was developed by Nils Bohlin, an engineer at Volvo. He patented the design in 1959 and Volvo made the patent available to other car manufacturers for free, prioritizing safety over profit. This decision had a profound impact on automotive safety worldwide.

Early seat belts were often simple lap belts, which offered some protection but could cause severe abdominal injuries in certain types of accidents. The addition of the shoulder strap in the three-point system revolutionized occupant protection by preventing the body from submarining under the lap belt and by restraining upper body movement.

Kolmipistevyöt became standard equipment in most vehicles starting in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their widespread adoption is credited with saving countless lives and preventing millions of injuries. Modern three-point seat belts often incorporate features like pretensioners, which rapidly tighten the belt in a crash, and load limiters, which help to reduce the force exerted on the occupant's chest. They remain a fundamental component of vehicle safety.