seatbelts

Calling it the Beltbag, Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to introduce inflatable rear seatbelt airbags on a yet-to-be-named “luxury-class model,” likely the new S Class sedan. The inflatable belts have been shown to reduce the potential for rear-seat passenger injuries in frontal collisions, by dispersing forces transmitted to the ribcage. The belt airbags would be triggered in severe frontal collisions only (where they’re shown to be most effective), inflated by gas generators. The seat belt’s Velcro cover would split open during deployment, allowing the belt itself...