Mercedes-Benz debuts inflatable Beltbag for rear seat-belts

The inflatable seat-belt strap, which first appeared in the company's ESF 2009 Experimental Safety Vehicle, is designed to reduce the risk of injury to passengers in the rear of vehicles in a head-on collision by lessening the strain placed on the ribcage. When the crash sensors detect a severe frontal impact, the airbag control unit triggers deployment and inflation of the Beltbag. A gas generator then inflates the multi-layered belt strap with Velcro seams to nearly three times its normal width. The resulting larger surface area is able to better distribute the force acting on the seat occupant, thereby reducing the risk of injury. While other automotive manufacturers such as Ford have introduced similar technology, Mercedes claims it is the first to focus on expanding the safety system for passengers in the rear. According to the company's Dr Rodolfo Schöneburg, head of Passive Safety and Vehicle Functions, Mercedes has also been using computer generated models to obtain detailed findings on the biomechanical strain during a collision to improve the Beltbag further.