THE INFLUENCE OF SEAT-BELTS AND HEAD-RESTS ON THE INJURIES OF CAR OCCUPANTS

DER EINFLASS VON SITZGURTEN UND KOPFSTUETZEN AUF DIE VERLETZUNGEN VON AUTOINSASSEN

The consequences resulting for the car occupants either with or without seat-belts after different collision patterns (head-on-, rear-, side impacts, etc.) are discussed. Seventy percent of all severly injured and 62% of the killed occupants were caused by head-on-impacts and ejection. Wearing a seat-belt is the best way to avoid injuries especially in these two situations. It has also pointed to the importance of speed-limits because seat-belts protect in an optimal way only up to 55 km/h impact-velocity (against a wall, a tree or an identical car running at the same speed). This explains that belts should be worn particularly within built-up areas. At a rough estimation 350 occupants less shall be killed and 4000 less severely injured after the 1975 expected compulsory seat-belt wearing. Besides well adjusted 3-point belts, correctly fixed head-rests are the most important safety devices for car occupants.

• Corporate Authors:

  Verlag Hans Huber

  Laenggass-Strasse 76
  3000 Bern 9,   Switzerland 
• Authors:
  • Walz, F
• Publication Date: 1974-9

Language

• German

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 614-620
• Serial:
  • Therapeutische Umschau/revue Therapeutique
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 9

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injury research; Crash severity; Deployable head restraints; Fatalities; Frontal crashes; Headrests; Laws; Manual safety belts; Speed limits; Vehicle occupants
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00083733
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 8 1975 12:00AM