Seat belt system for vehicle with electrically-actuated mode-changing retractor

A seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a first seat belt buckle mounted at a first location and comprising a first switch;
• a second seat belt buckle mounted at a second location and comprising a second switch;
• a seat belt retractor mounted at a third location, the third location being spaced along a seat for an occupant from the second location;
• a seat belt extendable from the retractor and having a tongue, wherein the seat belt is extendable to connect the tongue to the first seat belt buckle or the second seat belt buckle;
• and
• an electrical circuit with wired connections interconnecting the first seat belt buckle, the second seat belt buckle and the seat belt retractor, the electrical circuit comprising a relay connected to the first switch of the first seat belt buckle and to the second switch of the second seat belt buckle, wherein the relay is operative to cause the seat belt retractor to change an operating mode when the first switch changes states when the seat belt tongue is removed from the first seat belt buckle or when the second switch changes states when the seat belt tongue is removed from the second seat belt buckle.