The invention concerns an improvement in vehicle safety apparatus for sharply retracting a predetermined length of belt at the moment of an impending collision in order to draw the safety belt up firmly against the body of a passenger seated in the vehicle. In a vehicle safety belt take-up device of the type having an intermediate lug holding the safety belt and connected by means of a connecting rod to a piston arranged within a cylinder provided with a propellant charge for applying the belt retracting force when released in response to an actuating sensor, the improvement comprises a stationary backstop for stopping the retracting movement of the intermediate lug, and a locking device for locking the intermediate lug in place after the lug has retracted the belt a predetermined distance against the stationary backstop.