• AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    Volvo filed a patent for some sort of seatbelt in 1889. SAAB became the first car company to make any sort of seatbelt standard in 1958. Volvo became the first car company to install modern 3 point belts as standard equipment in 1959.

    So yes, but actually probably not.

    • AFK BRB Chocolate@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      So a patent existed prior, but that doesn’t mean they were made. SAAB made them standard 14 years after this car. Do with no other data, I’d say no and no.

      Edit: just realized that reads like I’m being pissy, but that wasn’t the tone my finger was swiping with. Thanks for the data!

      • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        Well the key word there is standard. I’m guessing that seatbelts were optional equipment prior to that, because I have seen a '50 SAAB 92 that had a driver’s side lap belt, which I believe was original equipment. I have also seen a '45 Chevy truck that also had a lap belt, but I’m unsure if that was original equipment.

        That’s why I said yes, but probably not.

        • BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          I think the popular argument against seatbelts was a long the lines of guns cars don’t kill people, reckless drivers kill people. Which, I guess, is the same argument that we use for anything that’s a bad idea for society as a whole, but is lucrative.