A method of protecting a passenger in a vehicle from a series of collisions.
The
method includes detecting that the vehicle is in danger of being involved in a
first collision; winding up a webbing of a seat belt to restrain the passenger;
permitting the passenger to move forward and the webbing to withdraw; winding up
the webbing to restrain and return the passenger to a normal seated position; maintaining
the passenger in a restrained condition; determining that the vehicle is in danger
of being involved in a second collision; permitting the passenger to move forward
and the webbing to withdraw; winding up the webbing to restrain the passenger and
return the passenger to a normal seated position; maintaining the passenger in
a restrained position; and releasing the restraint on the passenger.
