Seatbelt extenders were designed to accommodate large build and obese adults who otherwise struggle to secure their safety belts in cars and airplanes. Since standard seatbelts don't always provide enough play to accommodate larger folks, the seatbelt extender was designed to add some extra length while securely clipping in between the male and female ends of the standard belt setup. In recent years, these have become the subject of much controversy as they have been advertised to make using child car seats and booster seats easier, and in some cases, they have failed and caused severe injuries and even death. So, let's discuss whether seatbelt extenders are safe to use, or not.

What Are Seatbelt Extenders Used For?

Seatbelts are one of the most important safety items found on modern vehicles, and while modern cars are packed to the brim with active and passive safety features, this is the one you'll rely on to be kept in your seat when the worst happens. But what happens if you can't use a regular seatbelt?

Seatbelt extenders come in various 'sizes', although this applies more to the length by which they can extend the standard setup. They can be either flexible or rigid in construction. Originally, the idea behind seatbelt extenders was to make life easier for adults who could not use standard seatbelts, allowing them to still have the benefits of safety from a seatbelt. These have been used in car and airplane seats safely for many decades.

At some point in the 2010s, car designers started making rear-seat seatbelt buckles flush with the seat - although stylish and less cumbersome for back-seat passengers, it did mean that installing a child car seat safely became challenging. It also meant that older kids in booster seats couldn't reach the buckle to learn to fasten and unfasten their seatbelts themselves. Seatbelt extenders became the solution for securing seats and allowing older kids the independence of buckling themselves in and out.

This wasn't what these extenders were designed for, however, and in a landmark case in the USA in 2013, a young child from Tennessee was involved in a car accident while strapped into his seat in the family Nissan using a seatbelt extender. Despite the fact that the seatbelt extender in question was produced by Ford, the Nissan owner's manual explicitly warns against using such extenders, and the family sued the Blue Oval as the little boy suffered a traumatic brain injury as he was thrown from his seat.

The issue isn't always the extenders, but with how they are used. Despite this, they are readily available in online stores such as Amazon and eBay. But are they really safe?

Are Seatbelt Extenders Safe?

The question as to whether seatbelt extenders are safe to use lies more in whether they are used correctly than whether the product itself is actually capable of performing the function for which it was designed. When used as they were intended - for larger or obese adults that cannot fit into a seat with a regular seatbelt, these products have met the required safety standards.

For use in car seats and airplane seats on such adults, these seatbelt extenders are perfectly safe if used in the following applications only:

• Car and airplane seats that are already equipped with factory-fitted seatbelts that meet existing standards
• Used only for adults who have a larger body size, are obese, or have limited mobility/disabilities that cannot be accommodated in regular-length seatbelts
• Used only when it is an original product by a reputable manufacturer that adheres to all the federal standards and regulations that declare it safe for use.

When And Why Is It Dangerous To Use a Seatbelt Extender?

There are various reasons why a seatbelt extender can be dangerous when used incorrectly, and when extenders fail, the passenger is left susceptible to the forces of the accident. In the first place, seatbelt extender compatibility can be an issue. What works in one car may not work in another, despite the fact that it clicks when you buckle it together. If you drive a Honda Accord, obtain one from Honda; if you drive a Toyota Sienna, get one from Toyota. We strongly advise against using a seatbelt extender from a different manufacturer.

Secondly, the extender can change the way the seatbelt mechanism functions due to the placement on your body - the correct fit is across the lap, over the chest, and across the shoulder, with the buckle low down beside you. When poorly fitted, seatbelts and extenders won't provide the correct protection, which means the body can still be pulled free of the seat.

Seatbelt extenders are not safe when used for:

• Child car seats or booster seats: Regardless of whether this will make installing the car seat easier or allow your child to operate the buckle themselves, seatbelt extenders are not recommended for booster seats - or any type of child car seat for that matter. Seatbelt extenders should never be used with a regular seatbelt for children or teenagers, at all.
• Adults without a valid need for an extender: Unless you truly need extra play in your seatbelt, you should not use a seatbelt extender. Seatbelts should sit snugly against your chest once buckled in with buckle at your side - the buckle should never be across your lap - if a regular seatbelt fits appropriately or an extender results in the buckle positioned over your lap/on your thighs, the seatbelt is too big.
• For pregnant women: Unless a pregnant woman is unable to use a regular seatbelt, which is extremely rare, extenders should be avoided at all costs.

If I Can’t Use A Seatbelt Extender For My Car Child’s Car Seat, What Should I Do?

The only potentially viable reasoning for wanting to use a seatbelt extender with a child car seat is in the unlikely event that your car's seatbelt is too short to accommodate the correct installation of your child's seat. We strongly advise against using an extender in any case. Rather try an alternative position in your car, or even better, a more fitting car seat. Read our post on child car seat safety here for more information and contact an expert for guidance if you're unsure.

Conclusion

Seatbelt extenders are perfectly safe when used correctly and matched to the car in use. They should only be used for adults who cannot fit in a regular seatbelt, and never out of convenience or to make buckling-in easier for children. If you absolutely must have a seatbelt extender, make sure you obtain one that is compatible with your specific vehicle. Rather get a manufacturer or brand-specific extender that you know has been tested for your specific car.