GM Offers Seatbelt Use Enforcing Interlocks
General Motors is launching a new safety system in some of its vehicles that won’t allow the driver to shift out of park unless occupants buckle their seat belts.
The automaker announced on Monday that “select fleet vehicles” will be available with the new “Belt Assurance System,” which ensures that the driver and right front passenger are belted before the car can move.
GM didn’t specify which models will be offered with the system, but Automotive News reports that GM will offer it on the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado pickup trucks as well as the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan.
SEE ALSO: NHTSA Studying Interlocks for Seat Belt Enforcement
General Motors doesn’t plan to charge for the feature and is asking fleet customers that opt into having it to offer feedback on how it works. The plan is to gather information before applying the interlock safety system as standard equipment.
Last year, BMW petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to allow it to use interlocks in lieu of performing unbelted crash tests. At the time, BMW said it would be able to strip weight from its vehicles to reduce emissions if it were allowed to use interlocks rather than performing the test.
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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"General Motors is launching a new safety system in come of its vehicles that wont allow the driver to shift out of park unless occupants buckle their seat belts." *some (I hope)