Ford's rear inflatable seat belt wins 'Best New Technology' award

Ford's rear inflatable seat belt has been named the '2011 Best New Technology' by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at the Canadian International Auto Show.

The company's unique inflatable rear belts were developed to reduce pressure on the chest while helping to control head and neck motion. The vehicle's crash sensing system determines when the inflatable belt should deploy. "Safety is a key priority at Ford and we are honoured to win this year's 'Best New Technology' award for our industry first rear inflatable seat belts," said David Mondragon, president and ceo, Ford of Canada. "Available initially on our all new 2011 Ford Explorer, the rear inflatable seat belts work by spreading impact forces over five times more area than conventional seat belts."