These devices allow the seat belts to release somewhat during a forceful collision, preventing injury.
Let’s be clear: The risk of injury from not wearing a seat belt is exponentially greater than the risk of injury from the seat belt itself. That said, doctors and engineers have worked to further reduce the chance of injury for a properly belted vehicle occupant. Load limiters — sometimes called force limiters — allow the belt to “pay out” or release in a controlled manner, especially in a more forceful collision. Used in conjunction with airbags, load limiters help to guide the occupant into the airbag at the right moment and in the correct position. (Airbags are not designed to protect unbelted occupants, and they rarely do.)
Information for this was taken from the Cars.com’s glossary, written by Joe Wiesenfelder.
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