The first car to feature the three-point seat belt was the Volvo PV544 in 1959. However, the first documented use of seat belts dates back to the mid-19th century when English engineer and aviation pioneer Sir George Cayley invented a crude seat belt to be used by glider pilots to keep them secure mid-flight. The first "seat belt," or lap belt intended for motor vehicle usage, wasnt patented until 1855 by American Edward J. Claghorn, who wanted to keep tourists safe as they rode in taxis. However, seat belts werent widely popular until the mid-1930s when seat belts were tested for safety. Doctors finally urged vehicle manufacturers to add lap belts in all automobiles. In 1949, Nash became the first American car manufacturer to offer seat belts as a factory option, but buyers did not want them and requested dealers to remove them. Ford began offering optional seat belts in 1955, but they were not popular, with only 2% of Ford buyers choosing to pay for seat belts in 1956. The first modern three-point seat belt, the version installed in all vehicles around the world, was designed by Swedish engineer and inventor Nils Bohlin for Volvo in 1959.