Multiple System Atrophy. NORD gratefully acknowledges Niall P. Quinn, MD, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
In New York, where seat belt use became mandatory January 1, 1985, seat belt use rates increased from 16% before the law to 57% 4 months after the law; fatalities decreased 19%, despite a modest increase in mileage driven (4).
American car manufacturers Nash (in 1949) and Ford (in 1955) offered seat belts as options, while Swedish Saab first introduced seat belts as standard in 1958. After the Saab GT 750 was introduced at the New York Motor Show in 1958 with safety belts fitted as standard, the practice became commonplace. Glenn Sheren of Mason, Michigan submitted a patent application on March 31, 1955 for an automotive seat belt and was awarded US Patent 2,855,215 in 1958.