The last major innovation in safety belts was back in 1959 with the introduction of the three-point model we're all familiar with. That is, until Ford decided to launch an enhanced variant, in select 2011 models. In the 2011 Ford Explorer, for example, the optional safety package included rear seatbelts that become airbags in the event of an impact. Recently, Popular Mechanics recognized the unique inflatable design in their 2011 Breakthrough Awards.

The inflatable seatbelt was honored among inventions like the smog-eating roof tile, a 25,000-hour light bulb and solar panels made with up to 70-percent less silicone than traditional solar panels. Popular Mechanics  honors people and inventions that stand out in their respective industries: automotive, aerospace, and medicine, to name a few. They chose the inflatable seatbelt from Ford as one of ten products that aim to aim to "make the world smarter, safer and more efficient in the years to come?setting benchmarks in design and engineering today."¹

When triggered, Ford's inflatable safety belts release compressed gas into a concealed airbag that breaks through the fabric of the seatbelt. This airbag provides more than five-times the support for the head, chest and neck than a regular seatbelt. More often than not, rear seat passengers are likely to be the elderly and young children - passengers at greater risk for incurring injuries to these regions of their bodies.. Early users even report that the safety belt is more comfortable to wear than others, increasing the likelihood that backseat passengers will put them  on.

Srini Sundararajan, Safety Technical Leader, Ford Research and Innovation, accepted the award on behalf of his team. Acknowledging all of the brain power it takes to create an award-winning safety feature, he said, "[Our] goal is to develop safety technologies that give our customers peace of mind?I thank Popular Mechanics for recognizing the contributions of a number of dedicated engineers at Ford."¹

For now, you'll only find these inflatable seatbelts in the Ford Explorer, but Ford has plans to release the award-winning innovation across its entire lineup, soon. That said, you'll find impressive safety features across the new Ford lineup, available now.   Manhattan Ford encourages you to check it out online, or stop by our showroom at 787 11th Ave. New York, NY.

Source: ^1,2http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35419