Ford Expands Rear Inflatable Seat Belt Usage

From Ford.com:

•Ford will quickly expand availability of the just-launched rear inflatable seat belts by offering them on the Ford Flex and on Lincoln vehicles starting next summer

•The industry-first rear inflatable seat belts are designed to reduce head and neck injuries for rear seat passengers, especially children and older people

•The advanced restraint system debuted on the 2011 Ford Explorer

•Flex is one of 12 Ford Motor Company vehicles to have earned Top Safety Pick ratings from IIHS; Ford has the most top U.S. safety ratings of any automaker ever

“This advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seat passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Expanding the rollout of this technology is another example of Ford leading the way to enhance vehicle safety for our customers.”

The addition of the inflatable rear seat belts to Flex builds on the Top Safety Pick ratings the vehicle recently earned from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Ford plans to continue offering the inflatable belts affordably after launching them on the new Explorer.

Early data show approximately 40 percent of Explorer buyers are parents who are ordering the rear inflatable belts, said Amy Marentic, Car and Crossover Group marketing manager.

“The addition of inflatable belts enhances Ford’s well-earned reputation of adding technology that enables safety,” she said. “This is especially important to customers of products such as Explorer, which often serve large families who are looking for that extra peace of mind found in technology like inflatable belts.”

Read entire article here.

Stop by Lakewood Fordland to learn more about the inflatable rear seat belt option.