Sometimes when a client vehicle’s seat belt buckle might just be slightly too short, or at the wrong angle, you may come across what is called a “Seat Belt Extender”.  While these accessories aren’t particularly common, you are likely to come across them at some stage so it’s good to know about them.

ACRI Fact Sheet 23 – Seat Belt Extenders

The most common misuse scenario (But not limited to…)

A client’s child is sitting in a booster, with other child seats next to the booster preventing the client’s child from being able to unclip themselves.  The client sees buying an extender as the solution but overlooks that the extenders buckle is now sitting on the child’s hips, rather than on the seat.  This is where the danger lies.

Why would people need a seat belt extender?

Many vehicles have seat belts that are short. This creates four
common scenarios, they are:

• Being too short to reach around a particular passenger or
• Being too short to be threaded correctly through a particular child restraint product.
• Being too short when used with a gated buckle / locking clip to create a ‘Lap only’ seat belt for integrating with additional
  harness use. Or
• When the seat belt buckle is inaccessible to be connected safely and reliably.

Some potential risks are?

• Does the advisory information on the child restraint and or vehicle product state against seatbelt extender use?
• Is the seat belt extender compatible with the vehicle seat belt equipment?
• Is the seat belt extender compatible with the restraint equipment, does it allow the ‘hardware’ to contact the restraint in inappropriate ways?
• It must match the vehicle in both tongue and buckle. They must ‘lock in’ audibly.
• That false connection factors may confuse the safe use of the seat belt.
• That accidental disconnection risks are eliminated.
• That it is not too long and therefore place ‘hardware’ in front of the body, creating an injury risk to the passenger.

Important Note: All seat belt extenders should be supplied with written warning and use advice sheet.

Important Note 2: The ACRI Network does not promote the use of Seat Belt Extenders to the wider community

Conclusion:

ACRI suggests a survey be conducted on the requirements of the family and vehicle presented and run a risk assessment to identify the likely risks that a Seat Belt extender will bring to the everyday travel environment.

If the assessment shows that risks are identified and recognised by the parent / carer and they understand all of the day to day management aspects, including the presence of warnings on restraint product, only then supply may be appropriate.

Where can I buy a seat belt extender?

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