Ford's World-First Rear Inflatable Seat Belts Earn Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award

Ford's

industry-first rear inflatable seat belts combine the attributes of traditional seat belts and airbags to provide additional crash protection, giving parents particular peace of mind since children are common rear-seat passengers Lead developer Srini Sundararajan will accept the prestigious Breakthrough Product Award from Popular Mechanics tonight in New York, on behalf of Ford Motor Company Rear inflatable seat belts were introduced on the 2011 Ford Explorer and will be introduced on other global vehicles in the future What do Ford's latest safety innovation and director/filmmaker James Cameron have in common? Both are about to receive a prestigious technology award from Popular Mechanics. Ford's innovative, industry-first rear inflatable seat belts have been named a Breakthrough Product Award winner by Popular Mechanics, part of the magazine's seventh annual Breakthrough Awards. Lead developer Srini Sundararajan will accept the prestigious honor at a ceremony tonight in New York City. The development of the technology was a team effort, Sundararajan says, and he's proud that effort is being recognized. "Ford's goal is to develop innovative safety technologies that give our customers more peace of mind, so it is a great honor to receive the Breakthrough Technology Award," says Sundararajan, safety technical leader for Ford Research and Innovation. "I thank Popular Mechanics for recognizing the contributions of a number of dedicated engineers from Ford." The rear inflatable seat belts are designed to provide additional protection for rear seat occupants. They combine the attributes of traditional seat belts and airbags to help provide an added level of crash safety protection for rear seat occupants. To view animation of the inflatable rear seat belt, click here. The advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seat passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries. Ford introduced the inflatable rear seat belts in the 2011 Explorer, bolstering the Explorer's already extensive suite of safety innovations. The vehicle already has seen strong demand from customers for its safety and driver-assist technologies. Early data showed approximately 40 percent of Explorer buyers are parents who are ordering the rear inflatable belts. The rear inflatable seat belt technology will be introduced in more vehicles globally.