Buckling a seat belt, as menial as it may seem, can often be a hassle for those who have limited motion and/or lack the coordination to align the seatbelt buckle with the receiver slot. Older adults and elderly people frequently struggle to buckle up for a car ride. Not only is this an issue that can lower ones’ self confidence and sense of independence, but it is also a major safety concern.

After I witnessed my grandparents struggle with buckling their seat belts, I began prototyping a simple and easy solution for buckling up, allowing those with limited mobility to maintain their sense of independence.

Prototyping began with making basic models to demonstrate a proof of concept or function. The materials used were polystyrene, foam core, and magnets. 

Each prototype gave insight into the ergonomics and function of the device. Some models were divided up into more pieces that interlocked to explore different ways of attaching the device onto the seat belt inside the car. Different forms of pull handles were tested to find the angles and sizes that were most comfortable to grab. I toyed with the idea of a collapsable handle to keep things compact and out of the way after use.