AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS IN AUTOMOBILE CRASHES
Belt restraint systems have proven effective in the prevention of injuries associated with automobile accidents. Properly worn belts can significantly improve the odds of survival in a crash. Recent accident studies in the USA and Europe, together with biomechanical test results, indicate that conventional lap/shoulder belt systems are most effective in low-to-moderate crash severities, but are somewhat ineffective in frontal collisions more severe than a 30 mph fixed-barrier impact. The primary benefit of belt restraints in side and rollover collision modes is the prevention of ejection. However, other means of preventing ejection (e.g., improved door locks, glazing retention, etc.) are also proving to be effective. Extrapolation of available data from the Australian mandatory belt use legislation suggests that U.S. fatalities would be reduced by less than 40 percent, even with 100 percent lap/shoulder belt use. /Author/
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Corporate Authors:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Warner, C Y
- Boehly, W A
- BURGETT, A L
- Hoyt, T A
- Publication Date: 1973
Media Info
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 70 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Crash injury research; Crash severity; Crashes; Ejection; Injuries; Manual safety belts; Research; Rollover crashes; Side crashes
- Old TRIS Terms: Frontal dimension
- Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00096376
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
- Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-820 286
- Files: TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Sep 30 1975 12:00AM