Abstract: A belt gripping mechanism distanced from a belt payout reel including a support housing, a clamping assembly and a locking assembly, which functions in response to a predetermined load to grip a restraint belt in an effectively permanent manner so as to not be immediately releasable upon the cessation of forces which initially triggered the gripping. During emergency crash situations, the locking of the belt payout reel causes the clamping assembly to move from a locked "non-gripping" position to a locked "gripping" position significantly reducing the forward movement of the vehicle passenger.