The Reason for the Fabric Loop on Modern Seat Belts
If you’ve purchased a new vehicle in recent years, you’ve likely noticed a small loop of material attached near the buckle of your seat belts. During an accident, this loop of fabric is meant to tear, essentially helping to absorb some of the shock from the collision. Aside from helping to protect passengers, this loop also prevents seat belts from sliding down the side of the seat while driving. This ensures the buckle won’t rattle against the side of the door when you’re on the road.
Why Driver’s Side Seat Belts have a Button Instead of a Loop
While these loops are becoming standard for most vehicles today, you’ve likely noticed that the driver’s seat often has a button installed near the buckle instead of this loop of material. This button has the practical function of keeping the buckle from sliding down into the recesses of the seat. However, the main reason there’s a button instead of a loop is that it’s essential to prevent the driver from coming into contact with the wheel during an accident. If the fabric loop were included on the driver’s side, this could cause the driver to come into contact with the steering column during an accident
