Airbags now fitted to car seatbelts

Half a century after the advent of the three-point seatbelt, Ford has developed a version that incorporates an airbag.

The inflatable seat belt works by spreading the force of impact across a significantly greater area of the torso than a conventional seat belt.

Airbags are used in an increasing number of applications – they have been incorporated into motorcycle jackets and a Japanese company has developed the technology to be worn by the elderly to protect against falls.

Safer cars, more dangerous streets?

It is estimated that in the fifty years that the three-point safety belt has been fitted to cars, the lives of one million motorists have been saved.

In Europe alone, the safety belt is estimated to reduce road fatalities by 40 per cent every year.

Volvo was the first manufacturer to fit three-point safety belts as standard equipment in its cars, from 1963.

Research published by the Department for Transport indicates that each year over 500 people die in crashes not wearing a seatbelt and, in 2007, over 300 of these might have survived had they been belted in. Seatbelt use has been mandatory for all car occupants since 1991.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The seat belt continues to be developed and hailed as the single most important safety feature on modern cars, but even the best design and technology is no substitute for careful driving.”

“Airbags, anti-lock brakes and even seatbelts may have improved safety for car drivers, but they have also allowed motorists to subtly abdicate their duty of care to those road users more vulnerable than themselves.”