Abstract: An emergency locking reel for a safety belt and being of the kind having a frame which is securable to a support, a spool rotatably mounted on that frame, and locking means operable to prevent rotation of that spool in a belt unwinding direction. The locking means comprises a toothed ring secured to the frame and a pawl rotatable with the spool and movable relative thereto to engage the ring. According to the invention, an inertia plate is provided separate from the pawl and is mounted on the spool spindle for limited relative rotation. A ratchet wheel is connected to the pawl for rotation therewith and carries a detent which responds to relative rotation between the wheel and inertia plate to stop rotation of the wheel and thereby cause the pawl to engage the ring. A spring resists that relative rotation between the wheel and inertia plate.