A safety device (110, 110', 110") for preventing accidental discharge of an airbag associable to a seat belt buckle assembly , wherein a tongue plate is insertable into the seat belt buckle assembly being associated with a strap , the safety device comprising: a lower portion (112, 112") comprising two opposing sidewalls at least partially defining a cavity for holding the seat belt buckle assembly , and at least one rear wall portion preventing the seat belt buckle assembly from sliding out of the safety device when in closed position, while also allowing the seat belt buckle assembly with its associated strap to be inserted into the safety device , wherein the at least one rear wall portion further defines the cavity and forms a slot area , which slot area allows the associated strap to exit via a rear portion of the safety device after the seat belt buckle assembly is installed in the safety device ; an upper portion hingedly coupled to the lower portion; means for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion; and means for releasing the upper portion from the lower portion when the upper portion is securely latched to the lower portion to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion, wherein the means for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion (112, 112") comprises a locking arm having an end projection mounted on the upper portion and a tab extending inward on an inner portion of one of the opposing sidewalls of the lower portion, the end projection configured to engage the tab when the upper portion is rotated against the lower portion to hold the upper portion securely against the lower portion, and wherein the safety device (110, 110' 110") is configured to completely cover the buckle assembly , when the upper portion is secured against the lower portion (112, 112"), to eliminate contact between the buckle assembly and the tongue plate . a lower portion (112, 112") comprising two opposing sidewalls at least partially defining a cavity for holding the seat belt buckle assembly , and at least one rear wall portion preventing the seat belt buckle assembly from sliding out of the safety device when in closed position, while also allowing the seat belt buckle assembly with its associated strap to be inserted into the safety device , wherein the at least one rear wall portion further defines the cavity and forms a slot area , which slot area allows the associated strap to exit via a rear portion of the safety device after the seat belt buckle assembly is installed in the safety device ; an upper portion hingedly coupled to the lower portion; means for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion; and means for releasing the upper portion from the lower portion when the upper portion is securely latched to the lower portion to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion, wherein the means for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion (112, 112") comprises a locking arm having an end projection mounted on the upper portion and a tab extending inward on an inner portion of one of the opposing sidewalls of the lower portion, the end projection configured to engage the tab when the upper portion is rotated against the lower portion to hold the upper portion securely against the lower portion, and wherein the safety device (110, 110' 110") is configured to completely cover the buckle assembly , when the upper portion is secured against the lower portion (112, 112"), to eliminate contact between the buckle assembly and the tongue plate . <EOS>