Why do airplanes and cars have different seatbelt designs?

A car seat belt is designed to arrest as much momentum as possible in the case of a sudden stop (i.e. a front end collision). This is also the purpose served by the airbag. Without a seat belt, your car would stop and you would keep moving forward: into the steering column or through the front windshield. read more

Car seat belt buckles used to be the same as airplane seat belt buckles (at least through the 70s). The more expensive model in cars today is a result of safety regulations--mainly because the airline buckles wear out faster and can open accidentally (more so than the current car seat buckles). read more

up vote 18 down vote favorite You pull a flap on airplane seatbelts, you push a button on car seatbelts. read more

Car seat belts are anchored to strong seats. Airplane seats aren't that strong. In a car, the seat belt is designed to restrain people from quick deceleration along the ground. Airline seat belts are designed to keep people in their seats during turbulence. read more