What Ever Happened to Automatic Seat Belts?

Apr 27, 2022

The 90s were a weird time. There are a lot of things that exist as sort of a hazy fever dream in our collective consciousness—like that time KISS took off the makeup and released a grunge album. Another example of ephemera we’d all rather forget? Automatic seat belts.

If you’re under 30, you might not even remember them. These ill-fated safety restraints only existed for a short period of time before they were phased out… but why?

Let’s cast our gaze back to check out where this technology came from, and where it ultimately went.

A Brief History

Beginnings

There was a time when people thought that automatic seat belts were part of the ultimate solution for reduced traffic deaths. After being sparingly introduced by certain automakers in the late 70s, members of the Carter administration introduced legislation that would require the entire auto industry to have either automated seat belts or airbags by the mid-80s. This was at a time when seat belt usage was staggeringly low, with less than 20% of people reportedly wearing them.

The deadline was repeatedly extended in the face of pushback from the car industry, as well as safety authorities like the IIHS, who argued that airbags were superior. Still, since they had to choose one or the other, many auto manufacturers chose passive restraints because they were far cheaper than then-new airbag technology.

Heyday

By the early 90s, auto seat belts were a dime a dozen. There were a few different ways that they worked. One common iteration was a mechanism that slid from the A-pillar (straddling the windshield) back to the B-pillar (the space between the front and rear doors).

This was only a two-point system, meaning there were only two points of connection—therefore, the automatic belt only went diagonally across the driver’s chest, and lap belts still had to be buckled manually. This led to a lot of folks disregarding the optional lap belt altogether, which, it was later discovered, was actually more dangerous than not wearing a harness at all in certain instances.

Other interesting “automatic” designs required that you simply… leave it clipped in. The seat belt would be mounted to the door itself, as opposed to the body of the car, so you could just sort of shimmy in between the belt and the seat.

The End of Auto Seat Belts

It’s interesting, the things we take for granted. There was a time not so long ago that almost no cars on the road even had air bags. That all changed by the mid-90s, when legislation mandated that all vehicles have driver’s side airbags. By the year 1998, all new vehicles in production were required by law to have operational airbags on both the front and passenger sides. This, it turned out, was the beginning of the end for automatic seat belts.

By this point, it was well-known that automated safety harnesses were not the magical fix-all that some lawmakers hoped it would be. In the end, you simply can’t automate away human stubbornness. While seat belts are considered to be an incredibly important factor in reducing traffic injuries, the automatic versions have been relegated to just being another misstep in safety technology.

Seat Belt Laws

Eventually, state governments decided it was best to simply require motorists to wear a seat belt by law (Hew Hampshire is the only US state that doesn’t).

Still, even though 49 out of 50 states have some form of seat belt law, they do vary from state to state. Kansas state law, for instance, requires that all passengers aged 14 and up must be wearing a safety restraint at all times. It also notes that children under a certain age, height, or weight must be using an appropriate supplementary system, e.g., a car seat for infants and toddlers, or booster seat for older children. Kansas restraint laws are also upheld by primary enforcement, meaning a police officer can issue a fine solely for improper restraint use, and does not need another excuse to pull drivers over.

Missouri state law is slightly more laid back. The statutes for infant and child safety restraints are the same: it’s recommended that children remain in a booster seat until roughly age 8 or 9, or as long as the child is under 4’ 9” or 80 pounds. Passengers over the age of 16 are only technically required to wear a restraint if they are in the front seats. Missouri’s seat belt laws are also classified as secondary enforcement, meaning an officer cannot pull a person over just for a safety restraint violation; another violation, like speeding or reckless driving, must occur first.

Modern Advancements in Seatbelt Safety

Regardless of your local statutes, at McCarthy, we always recommend proper seat belt and child harness usage for everyone in the vehicle. Air bag technology may be worlds away from what it was back in the 80s and 90s, but relying on them alone is simply not enough. Research by the NHTSA has estimated a 45 percent reduction in fatal injuries when drivers and passengers in the front seat use safety restraints. In addition, the IIHS reports that unrestrained rear passengers increase fatal risk to the driver by a staggering 137 percent, compared to rear passengers who are properly buckled in.

Seat Belt Reminder Alarms

They may be supremely annoying if you’re not used to them, but we promise they aren’t more annoying than catching an airbag to the dome. The IIHS has just started its first seat belt reminder evaluations, with the ultimate goal to push lawmakers and automakers to further improve standards. Currently, the federal regulation requires an audible signal that lasts 4 to 8 seconds, which the IIHS has stated is insufficient. One of our favorite brands, Subaru, ranked very well in the study.

Seat Belt Extenders

Making sure your safety restraint fits properly is quite literally a matter of life and death. They’re designed to work in conjunction with air bags and vehicle crumple zones to distribute the impact of a crash and conserve inertia. An ill-fitting harness can increase the potential of injuries like whiplash. Seat belt extenders offer a potential solution, but when buying a new car, make sure you speak to a professional who can steer you toward some genuine auto parts.

Racing Harnesses

These employ significantly stronger materials and more points of contact to better protect drivers during a high-speed collision. They’re generally considered unnecessary unless you’re… well, racing. If you’re taking a sports car out on the track, a 5, 6, or 7-point harness can be a well-worthy investment. Just make sure, as with the extenders, you’re consulting a professional before buying and installing.

Inflatable Seat Belts

These are uncommon, and usually only found in the rear seats to make up for the lack of airbags. They can be beneficial for younger passengers in the event of a crash, but if you have a child in a car seat, make sure you do some research on which models are compatible.

Need Your Seat Belt Repaired?

Maybe you got into a fender bender and broke the crash tensioner. Maybe your dog gnawed a hole in the restraint. Or maybe your ride is just getting old, and the buckle doesn’t function properly anymore. No matter the case, we can’t stress this enough: if any part of your seat belt is broken, get it fixed immediately. If your seat belt is broken, don’t try to fix it yourself.

Our team of collision experts are more than happy to help get your car safe for the road ahead, whether it be complete replacement or recommendations on a vendor that sells quality replacement seat belts in Kansas City. Find an auto shop near you to get help with seatbelt repair, airbag replacement or general collision damage service.

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