(Tue 08 Dec 09)

HRH Prince Michael of Kent has presented one of his Road Safety Awards to Volvo to mark the 50th anniversary of the three-point safety belt as we know it today.

"I congratulate Volvo on its outstanding achievement," said the Prince. "Its leadership and commitment will make a significant contribution to our aim of saving five million more lives across the world over the next ten years."

"We are delighted and honoured to receive this very special and prestigious award," said Volvo Car UK Managing Director Peter Rask. "Volvo's invention of the three-point safety belt 50 years ago is a perfect example of how the protection of human life is intrinsic to the company's DNA. Now, it is a legal requirement that all cars on UK roads are fitted with the safety belt, I like the thought that there is a little piece of Volvo in every car.

"When Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson created Volvo in 1927, they famously quoted, 'Cars are driven by people. Therefore the guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo is - and must remain - safety'. The company is now aiming towards a vision that by 2020, nobody should be killed or seriously injured in a Volvo and we are constantly innovating and developing safety systems and features that all contribute towards this vision."

The inventor of the safety belt was Nils Bohlin, Volvo's first safety engineer. There's more about him and his work here.

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