You are here: Home / Articles / Glossary of Automotive Terminology / P / Pretensioner

Pretensioner

Device that retracts the seat belt to tighten or take up slack in the wearer's belt. When a collision occurs, a seat belt with a pretensioner detects the incident, or that the brakes have been applied, and tightens the belt before the wearer is propelled forward. This holds the occupant more securely in the seat.