Ford to Introduce Inflatable Seat Belts

Ford Motor Co. will begin equipping certain vehicles with inflatable seat belts that the company says will help prevent injuries in auto accidents. The inflatable rear seat belts will be available on the next generation Ford Explorer and will become more widespread over time. The belts contain an accordion-folded bag that fills with air in the event of a collision, much like a traditional car air bag. The belt's increased diameter helps spread the force of an impact across a wider area of the passenger's body, which dampens the pressure and reduces the risk of injury. It also helps limit head, neck and chest injuries by keeping passengers in the appropriate seating position. The future of car safety is here