World’s first inflatable seatbelt could reduce injury

Car seatbelts save thousands of people from death each year but they are not without certain problems.

Now car maker Ford has developed a seatbelt that automatically inflates like an airbag during a crash, giving extra protection to passengers and limiting some of the common injuries associated with standard safety belts.

Experts say the belts, set to be introduced in the back seats of the latest model Ford Explorer, will be most effective at preventing broken ribs, interal damage and bruising in children and the elderly.

The new vehicle will go into production in the United States next year. Successful trials could then pave the way for the device to be used in Britain.

The cylindrical airbag fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt and extends from the buckle to the shoulder.

In the event of a crash, the airbag is designed to inflate incredibly fast.

Sensors in the Explorer will calculate the severity of an impact and inflate the belts with compressed gas from a canister stored beneath the seat. Within 40 milliseconds – the time it takes a car to travel one yard at motorway speed – the device is fully activated.

The airbag breaks out of its pocket and through the seatbelt fabric, spreading the impact forces over an area five times larger than a traditional belt, reducing pressure on the chest and controlling head and neck movement.

Sue Cischke, vice-president of safety engineering at Ford, said the belts would improve safety for all rear-seat passengers.

“Ford’s rear inflatable seatbelt technology will enhance safety for rear-seat passengers of all ages, especially for young children who are more vulnerable in crashes,” she said.

The belts are safe to use with children’s seats and resemble ordinary seatbelts in everyday use. More than 90 people who tested them said they were similar to or more comfortable than stands belts.

Clarence Ditlow, of the Centre for Auto Safety, said they will help to reduce broken ribs, common in back-seat passengers involved in a crash, because the airbag inflates more gently than a conventional front-seat airbag.

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