Mercedes Active Seat-Belt Tech Holds Rear Passengers More Safely

Mercedes has developed a system called active seat-belt buckle that automatically tightens the seat-belt for rear passengers. Mercedes claims that is technology means that rear passengers are secured more firmly. The system even goes one step further by having he seat belt buckle emerge from the rear seats when the rear door is opened, and the belt buckle illuminates. 

The active rear seat-belts are also linked to the Mercedes Pre-Safe system. Whenever Pre-Safe activates the rear belts will tighten, just as the ones in the front do with this system. 

Mercedes says it will have the technology on its luxury-segment vehicles shortly. 

"In the rear of premium saloons in particular, passengers tend to sit in particularly relaxed positions in the generous space which is available. Active seat-belt buckle as part of PRE-SAFE® unlocks the full potential of the on-board restraint systems,” said  Prof. Dr. Ing. Rodolfo Schöneburg Head of Passive Safety and Vehicle Functions at Mercedes-Benz.

This system sounds vaguely like something out of a horror movie. A rear passenger sitting there, and the rear seat-belt getting progressively tighter. Obviously, Mercedes would not put a system in its cars that would be unsafe. This just seems to solve a problem that does not exist.