Admit it: you’ve probably seen it before, that little plastic button hanging from your seatbelt. You might even have thought it was useless, or purely decorative. And yet, this discreet detail plays a much more useful role than you might think.
It’s not just a piece of plastic forgotten by car engineers. This « kill button , » as it’s called, is an integral part of your car’s safety system. And once you know what it does, you’ll never look at it the same way again!
A mini button for a well-thought-out effect
The stop button (or retainer) is that small plastic element, often located just below the metal buckle of the belt, when it is stowed. Its role? To prevent this buckle from sliding too far down the strap.
Without it, the buckle would slide all the way down into the seat when you unbuckle your seatbelt… and it would be much less convenient to retrieve it . But it’s not just about comfort: it’s also about safety.
A button that saves you time… and strengthens your security
Imagine this: You’re late getting into your car, reaching for your seatbelt… and can’t find the buckle, it’s tucked all the way down. Isn’t that annoying? The stop button keeps that buckle within easy reach. The result: you save precious seconds, especially when every minute counts.
But that’s not all. A poorly positioned seat belt means less effective safety . Thanks to this button, the buckle stays securely in place, allowing the seat belt to function properly in the event of sudden braking or impact.
