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What is that Loop on the Seat Belt For?

August 24, 2021 By Nadeem Muaddi

The Hog Ring - What is that Loop on the Seat Belt For

Have you ever noticed that extra loop of fabric stitched onto a seat belt right by the buckle, and wondered what it’s there for?

It’s called an “energy management loop,” and it’s actually a really important safety feature that many drivers, passengers and even auto trimmers know little about.

Jake McKenzie of Auto Accessories Garage recently told Reader’s Digest that it’s purpose is to keep passengers safe during really power collisions.

“It’s designed to rip under intense stress,” McKenzie said. “By ripping, it can cushion the blow of a collision by a few inches and help keep the passenger safe.”

In other words, it rips open to give the seat occupant a few extra inches of seat belt. This not only prevents an extreme jerk, which can be dangerous, but also minimizes the chances of the entire seat belt ripping.

Interestingly, no driver’s seat features this loop on its seat belt — and that’s for safety reasons too. Instead, it has a small button just below the buckle.

The Hog Ring - What is that Loop on the Seat Belt For

The button just stops the buckle from slipping. It doesn’t provide any room for expansion of the seat belt.

“On the driver’s side, it’s even more essential to keep the driver secured because hitting your head on the steering wheel could be fatal,” McKenzie said. “The energy management loop is absent from the driver’s side because every millimeter matters in the event of a serious collision.”

For drivers, a couple extra inches of seat belt won’t help, but hurt. Besides, most new cars — even lightly equipped base models — feature driver’s side airbags.

So now you know: The seat belt loop is more than a quirky bit of extra fabric. It has a really important purpose.

Related Stories:

  • This is How Seat Belt Pretensioners Work
  • Why are Headrests Difficult to Remove?
  • Read This Before Sewing Airbag Seams

Filed Under: Archive, Interesting Read, Safety Issues Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Seat Belt

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Todd says

    August 27, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    Actually on my mother’s 2020 Ford escape it does have that loop on the driver’s seat belt. Saw it as I was reading this article haha

    • Nadeem Muaddi says

      August 28, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      Oh no! That ain’t good.

      • Steve says

        September 2, 2021 at 1:45 pm

        The loop on the drivers side is to keep the buckle from sliding all the way down. If you look closely it is a loop sewn on top of the belt not the belt folded back on itself.

  2. Randy Allgood says

    August 31, 2021 at 8:01 am

    I have a 2017 Dodge Caravan and a 2012 Ford F-250 crewcab and both of them also have the loop. ?

  3. Katy Modrak says

    August 31, 2021 at 7:20 pm

    My 2019 Subaru Forester has a loop on the drivers side.

  4. JW says

    May 2, 2022 at 3:41 pm

    I think this article was poorly researched… I have 3 vehicles, Chevy, Ford and Kia in my household. All 3 have the loop on the driver’s side seat belt.

  5. Dale Shawgo says

    July 25, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    You are wrong that there is no loop on the driver’s seat belt. My 2021 Buick Enclave has a loop just like the other seats.

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