Safety belts remain the most important vehicle safety technology available. Responding to the changing demographics of today's driving population, Ford is researching advanced next-generation safety belt technologies that could help to further reduce the number of annual vehicle fatalities, which are already at their lowest levels since 1994 in developed countries.
One new design, envisioned for possible use in rear seats, incorporates an air bag into the safety belt itself. In this design, a tube of air bag material is hidden in the safety belt webbing, and the tube inflates into a cylindrical shape when the frontal air bags deploy. The inflatable belts have the potential to spread the forces from a vehicle crash over a broader section of the body than a traditional safety belt, helping to reduce pressure on the chest. At the same time, the bag catches the occupant's chin, helping to control the motion of the head and neck.
Though much work remains, early research and studies have shown that the inflatable belt may effectively enhance the protection of occupants in the rear seat, including children and the elderly. When not inflated, the thicker belt was judged in consumer clinics to be more comfortable than a standard safety belt, because it felt like it was padded. A version of the inflatable belt system was shown on a concept car at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2006. As with most new technologies, a number of technical challenges remain and need to be overcome before these belts can be considered for use on production vehicles.
