Why seat belts have hidden buttons and why you should care

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 that most of us may not know about. Have you ever wondered, for example, why manufacturers place small plastic buttons on the belts?

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

Getting back 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, making it always within reach and facilitating quick fastening.