Whether your car seats are fancy leather or durable fabric, there’s one thing they have in common—seat belts. The seat belts are equipped with safety features, and when you look at them, you’ll notice a fabric loop by the buckles, except for the driver’s seat.
What do these fabric loops mean? Are they necessary for safety? Why don’t driver seats have them? Keep on reading and find the answers to these questions right away.
What Are Fabric Loops in Seat Belts?
The fabric loop that you can see in your seat belts is officially called the emergency management loop. They are designed to rip if the car encounters intense stress. When this fabric loop pulls, you will have something that may cushion the blow of a crash by a few inches, which will help keep the vehicle passengers safe.
You can find fabric loops in most cars, but it is not necessarily a cause for concern if your vehicle doesn’t have them. Some cars have a five-out-of-five rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration without fabric loops. But if you have them in your car, you should read more about them.
What Are Seat Belt Fabric Loops For?
Energy management loops are designed to prevent injuries should you encounter a vehicular accident. During a collision, the seat belt fabric loop will rip open. When this happens, you’ll get a few more inches of your seat belt to help you, which will dissipate the impact, stop your seat belt from breaking, and protect you. Simply put, with the trigger, the seat belt fabric loops will give your seat belt a bit more slack so that you will stay safe no matter what.
Besides, a seat belt fabric loop keeps the buckle of your belt from damaging the side of your car while your car is moving. Through this loop, your buckle will stay at a convenient height, and it won’t fall or end up on the car floor.
Why Can’t You Find a Fabric Loop on the Driver’s Side of the Car?
The driver’s side of the car won’t have the same fabric loop. There’s a simple explanation for this—the driver’s seat belt is always buckled in as long as the car is moving, so it won’t encounter a buckle hitting the window repeatedly while the vehicle is on the road. Instead, what you can expect is a button that will keep the buckle from slipping down the floor.
Moreover, there’s a deeper reason. A fabric loop adds a couple of inches to the seat belt. However, an extra set of inches can put the driver at a higher risk of injury in an accident. The additional stretch to the fabric could lead the driver to hit their head on the steering wheel, which can be fatal during a severe collision.
Final Thoughts
When you’re driving, you and your passengers must stay safe on the road at all times. That means ensuring your seat belts are secured and having all the accessories they come with at the best possible state.
If you are seeking custom-made seat belts, Color Seat Belts can deliver high-quality ones for you. We ensure that you would not have to sacrifice safety features even though you get a seat belt replacement. Contact us today to place your order!