A safety belt system is described which has specially selected highly effective belt components in an especially sensible arrangement for obtaining a very favourable cost-benefit ratio. A belt tightening motor 1 which is coupled in the event of an accident to the rotation of the cardan shaft 18, actuates via a cable 2 the belt gripper 6 of a tightening unit 7. Above the latter there is arranged an extremely small self-sensing clamping device 10 which can be activated in the event of an accident and is designed to act as a power limiter 12 in conjunction with a specially designed sliding plate 11. The retractor 4 is of exclusively lightweight construction and is not loaded to a significant extent. The favourable cost structure of this highly efficient belt system makes it especially suitable for use in small and medium-range vehicles. <IMAGE>
