Step aside Volvo. Ford has become the first automaker to introduce inflatable seat belts (airbags plus seat belts—why has no one thought of this earlier?). Designed with rear-seat passengers in mind, the inflatable seat belts spread the crash force more evenly over the human body, compared to conventional seat belts that would concentrate the force on a smaller area (the body experiences a pressure higher by as much as five times as a result).
This new technology will prevent a large deal of more serious head, neck and chest injuries suffered by the elderly and children in accidents. Unlike airbags, which are inflated by nitrogen gas in a heat-generating chemical reaction, these inflatable seat belts are pumped up by cold, compressed gas. Compatible with all types of child seats, these seat belts are also softer than the conventional, therefore encouraging children to buckle up.
To be introduced in the 2010 Ford Explorer, the inflatable seat belts will eventually find its way into most Ford models in the rest of the world.
Tags: Car Tech • Explorer • Ford • Ford Cars • Ford Explorer • US • Volvo
