Ford unveils inflatable seatbelts

• Source: Global Times
• [16:16 November 06 2009]
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Ford aims to further protect passengers with seatbelts that inflate in 40 milliseconds in the event of a frontal accident or applying emergency brakes.

When expanded, the belt will cover five times more surface area of the body than a normal seat belt, which will greatly reduce pressure on the chest and help to control head and neck motion in an accident.

The mechanics of Ford's inflatable belt system uses cold compressed gas to inflate the bags while the traditional airbags rely on a heat-generating chemical. Released Nov. 5, These inflatable seatbelts are scheduled to enter production in 2010 for the next generation Ford Explorer before being offered across its global lineup.

Agencies and Wang Yang contributed to this story