Volvo wants to be even safer. It just announced a new revolution

You thought that nothing could be invented on the subject of seat belts? Wrong. Volvo has just shown that this is only the beginning.

There are certainties in the automotive industry. A Volkswagen diesel has to clatter, an Alfa Romeo has to look beautiful, and a Volvo has to be safe. And just when you think that the Swedes have come up with absolutely everything that can save your life when it comes to safety, they come in all dressed in white and say, "What about seat belts that have a life of their own?"

Let's face it: seat belts are the most boring and yet most important piece of equipment in every car. They've been doing the same thing for decades. There's a strap, there's a buckle, you click and off you go. Simple as that. What else could be improved? After all, a seat belt is a seat belt, right? Well, not really.

Volvo engineers, who apparently got bored with inventing more airbags and anti-collision systems, took up the task of seat belts. And they came to the conclusion that the current solution is like a suit off the rack – it seems to fit everyone, but it fits no one perfectly. That is why they patented something that could be called tailor-made seat belts. In real time.

How is this supposed to work? Imagine getting into a car. The system, using sensors and clever algorithms, constantly analyzes how you sit: your height, weight, position behind the wheel.

New Volvo seat belts / press materials

Based on this , special electric motors adjust the tension and position of the belt so that it fits your body perfectly. No more belts digging into your neck if you are shorter. No more play if you fidget in your seat. The belt is supposed to be like a second skin – you don’t feel it until you need it.

But that's not all. The system is supposed to be intelligent enough to react to the situation on the road. Are you driving calmly on the motorway? The belt gently hugs you. Are you taking a sharper turn or does the system detect a risk of collision? The belt tightens in a split second, preparing you for the worst. It's no longer a passive piece of material, but an active guardian who thinks for you.

New Volvo seat belts / press materials

Of course, it will probably take a while before this solution makes it to the cars we buy in the showroom. For now, it's a patent and a demonstration of possibilities. But it's yet another proof that Volvo has a healthy obsession with safety. And that's a good thing. After all, they gave the world three-point seat belts in 1959, making the patent available for free to everyone else. It seems that after more than 60 years, they decided it was time for another revolution.