Airbag deployment system and method of determining occupant presence

An occupant sensor system 12 is coupled to an airbag deployment system 14. Occupant sensor system 12 has an occupant sensor 24 that comprises a seat belt and a plurality of wires extending a predetermined length within seat belt 26. Wires 28 are coupled to a controller 22 that is used to sense a changing electrical characteristic of wires 28 such as capacitance or inductance to determine the presence of an occupant. Controller 22 in response to the signal from occupant sensor 24 may then adjust the deployment of an airbag 18.