A seat belt system (20) has a seat belt (22) and web guide (50') having a support surface for supporting the seat belt. An energy absorbing seat belt retractor (52) permits its spool to rotate in a belt protracting direction when a portion of the seat belt is loaded during a crash. This causes another portion of the seat belt extending through the web guide to slide rapidly upon the support surface. The web guide includes a support surface having mechanical characteristics that are not changed by the rapidly moving seat belt thereacross.
