The hidden purpose of seat belt buttons: Enhancing user comfort

Every vehicle includes standard equipment, including airbags and seat belts, which should always be fastened. Few people know why small plastic buttons are on the latter. They were not placed there for decoration.

Nowadays, seat belts are such a prominent part of every car's equipment that few people pay attention to them. Meanwhile, their design hides certain elements we may not know about. Have you ever wondered, for example, why manufacturers place small plastic buttons on the belts?

Volvo introduced the first seat belts to the market in 1958, and in the 1980s, Mercedes improved their functionality. Over time, other companies began developing increasingly safer belt technologies.

Returning to the design of the seat belts: You may have noticed a characteristic button on them, the purpose of which may be a mystery to you. Although it does not directly increase your safety, it significantly improves user comfort. Each of us has probably performed acrobatic maneuvers trying to catch the end of the belt before a trip. This button keeps the belt buckle at a fixed height, always within reach, and facilitates quick fastening.