Science of Safety: How Seat Belts, Kevlar Arrived
Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin invented the modern three-point seat belt. Kevlar, a material that can resist bullets, was an unexpected discovery by American chemist Stephanie Kwolek. Transcript of radio broadcast:
08 February 2010
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH:
This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Shirley Griffith.
BOB DOUGHTY:
And I'm Bob Doughty. Today we tell about two recent inventions that have helped to save lives. We will also tell about the people who developed them.
(MUSIC)
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH:
Most cars have seat belts as part of their equipment. Seat belts protect drivers and passengers in case of accident. They also reduce the effect of a crash on the body. Safety experts estimate that the restraining devices save more than four thousand lives a year in the United States alone. Worldwide, some experts, say the devices have protected up to a million people.
Nils BohlinThe first seat belt was said to have been created in the eighteen hundreds by George Cayley of England. He is remembered for many inventions, especially for early "flying machines."
The United States first recognized the invention of an automobile seat belt in eighteen forty-nine. The government gave a patent to Edward J. Claghorn of New York City so that others would not copy his invention. Claghorn called the device a Safety-Belt. It was said to include hooks and other attachments for securing the person to a fixed object.
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