THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REAR-SET LAP-BELTS IN CRASH INJURY REDUCTION

This report describes and analyses crash data related to the injury-reducing effectiveness of rear seat lap belts and front seat lap/shoulder belts. It was found that in the rear seat, serious injuries are less likely to occur among lap belted occupants than among those unrestrained. The reduction is about 40%. It was also found that in the front seat, serious injuries are appreciably less frequent among lap/shoulder belted occupants than among those unrestrained. The reduction is about 50%. The 40% lap belt benefit and the 50% lap/shoulder belt benefit are not directly subject to comparison since one awnalysis dealt with the front seat crash environment and the other with the rear seat. These and other study findings are discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  Highway Safety Research Center
  Chapel Hill, NC  United States  27599
• Authors:
  • Campbell, B J
• Publication Date: 1986-11

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Injuries; Manual safety belts; Rear seat occupants; Reduction (Chemistry); Seat belts
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lap belts
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495791
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 799
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1990 12:00AM