The three-point seatbelt as we know it today was created by Volvo in 1959 and the manufacturer was so convinced of its safety potential that it made the patent available for other manufacturers, and motorists, to benefit from.

And although we may now take it for granted, modern technological developments, such as seat belt pre-tensioners, are designed to work in conjunction with the same basic design of the seatbelt, so it remains the single most important safety feature on all modern cars.

Simple but essential safety

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Volvo was also the first manufacturer to fit three-point safety belts as standard equipment in its cars, from 1963. Now required by law in modern cars, it continues to protect hundreds of thousands of people from death or serious injury in car accidents every year.

Peter Rask, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: 'For the majority of motorists, clicking the seatbelt into place is as much a part of the ritual to beginning a car journey as starting the engine. That makes it easy to forget its lifesaving potential. However other safety systems, such as airbags, are designed to work in conjunction with seatbelts, so it remains the most important safety device in any modern car.'

Research supports that a large number of people who die in road accidents might have survived had they been belted in.

Will we still be using the safety belt in 2020?

'At Volvo we are convinced that the belt will still be around in 2020 and way beyond that too. The belt may look somewhat different. It may have a four-point attachment instead of three. It will probably be designed so it is even easier to put on than it is today. Only when we have cars that automatically ensure that they are not involved in collisions can we do away with the belt. But that's a long way off yet, even though there is a lot of research going on in that area too,' explains Lennart Johansson.

Four-point safety belt

The four-point safety belt has been discussed as a possible alternative by Volvo as well as other manufacturers and several solutions have been presented over the years. However, there is not yet a good technical solution that offers a suitable balance.

The four-point belt has its advantages. For instance, it restrains the occupant more effectively if the car rolls over (one reason why rally cars are fitted with four or five-point safety harnesses or belts). It also reduces the small risk of the seat occupant sliding out from under the three-point belt.

However, the four-point belt also has disadvantages. Volvo believes that it should be designed as a cross, forming an X pattern across the body. It is across the ribcage that the human body is strongest and has the best chance of absorbing incoming collision force. The challenge therefore is how best to effectively attach the upper point of the belt to the centre of the car where there is no natural attachment point in the bodywork.

Motorised belt that responds to potential hazards

The motorised belt is an exciting new technology that tightens the seat belt and places the driver in the right position in potentially hazardous situations. For instance, the system could register if the car is being driven more actively, with more steering wheel input. In such a situation, there may be a benefit from having more support from the belt. The belt may also receive a signal from the car's collision warning system that an obstacle is approaching. Or that the car has noted that the driver is beginning to be drowsy or inattentive. If so, the belt can provide a warning and alert the driver to the situation by pulling tight and positioning them in the seat.