Ford unveils inflatable seat belts

Car manufacturer Ford has developed inflatable seat belts, which it plans to introduce in its vehicles from next year.

A combination of traditional seat belts and air bags, the accessory aims to improve safety of passengers in the rear seats and is expected to result in fewer car insurance claims.

The tubular air bags in the seat belts are deployed by vehicles safety sensors within 40 milliseconds of a crash.

It fills with cold compressed gas from a cylinder housed below the seat.

The wider inflatable belt is better at holding the passenger in the appropriate seating position - reducing the risk of head, neck and chest injuries, especially among children and the elderly.

Ford claims the new design distributes crash force energy across five times more of the occupant's torso than a traditional belt.

Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering, said: “Ford's rear inflatable seat belt technology will enhance safety for rear-seat passengers of all ages, especially for young children who are more vulnerable in crashes.”

Inflatable rear seat belts will make their debut on the next-generation Ford Explorer, which goes into production next year for the North American market. The carmaker hopes to roll out the technology across vehicles globally.

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