How Seat Belt Pretensioners Work to Keep You Safe in a Crash

Seat belts are essential components of vehicles. Buckling up while driving keeps you safe and secure, especially during potential collisions, crashes, and accidents. You must appropriately wear them so they can be snug and comfortable.
Seat belt regulations vary in Canada. In Ontario, anyone who drives a motor vehicle must wear their car’s entire seat belt assembly. Drivers and passengers should know the following guidelines on proper seat belt wearing:
- Lap portion should be over your hips
- Torso portion should be across your chest
- The adjustments must be according to your height
- Shoulder strap shouldn’t be behind your back
- Pregnant women must wear shoulder and lap belts, and lap belts should be low so they don’t sit on the stomach
Modern vehicles have seat belt pre-tensioners. Pretensioners are systems that tighten the seat belts during collisions and crashes to keep the vehicle occupants secure. Their mechanisms use explosive charges to activate pistons that quickly tighten the straps. This action removes any loose areas to reduce forward movements and minimize injuries.
Pretensioners can also operate similarly to airbag modules. They have small inflaters controlled by the airbag modules. They may be deployed with or without airbags depending on the crash type.
Once pretensioners are deployed, they must be replaced or rebuilt. Leaving them locked and stuck can cause structural damage and reduce safety and effectiveness. Replacement and rebuilding are also recommended to keep the car’s integrated systems at optimal health.
Although pretensioners are generally harmless, they can sometimes be defective, which results in recalls issued by manufacturers or importers. Manufacturers and importers do recalls to determine that vehicle components, like pretensioners, pose safety risks and fail to meet safety standards.
If you sustained injuries from pretensioner failures, call Diamond and Diamond for help. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can provide you with the necessary legal advice to maximize your rights.