SEAT BELTS REDUCE SERIOUS INJURIES

According to preliminary findings of a study of car crash victims conducted in 15 hospitals around the UK, the compulsory wearing of seat belts has reduced the number of casualties by 20%. Figures for the period February to July, 1982, were compared with those for the same period in 1983 (the seat belt law took effect on Jan 31, 1983) and the number of crash victims requiring inpatient care was found to have fallen by over 35%. There were marked decreases in the number of front seat occupants with facial wounds, concussion, fractured skulls, and internal injuries. Fractures and dislocations of the spine and sprained necks were found to be more common after legislation. The hospital study corroborates national figures for the same period from the Department of Transport, which reported a 25% reduction in deaths and serious injuries to front seat passengers. (TRRL)

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• Corporate Authors:

  Lancet Limited

  7 Adams Street
  London WC2N 6AD,   England 
• Publication Date: 1984-4

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 975
• Serial:
  • The Lancet
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 8383
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0140-6736
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01406736

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Chemical reduction; Fatalities; Injuries; Injury severity; Laws; Manual safety belts; Seats; Statistics; Vehicle occupants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Front; Severity; Use
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• ITRD Terms: 1602: Fatality; 9025: Front; 2163: Injury; 1476: Safety belt; 1388: Seat (veh); 6555: Statistics; 8119: United Kingdom; 9084: Use; 1715: Vehicle occupant
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Law; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I81: Accident Statistics; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387991
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM