INFORMATION ON INJURIES OBTAINED FROM REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS TO CAR OCCUPANTS WEARING SAFETY BELTS

An analysis of accident reports returned to a safety belt manufacturer showed that about two-thirds of the injuries to wearers of lap-and-diagonal belts were caused by striking parts of the car, and only one-third were due to restraining forces due to belts. Leg, knee and arm injuries caused by impact with parts of the car were comparatively numerous and severe. Many leg and knee injuries are probably preventable by changes in the design of the car interior. Injuries due to the bely were mainly to shoulder, chest, ribs and neck. Neck injureis were rarely serious. Automatic belts were more effective than ordinary lap-and-diagonal belts, particularly in preventing head injury to the driver. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • From: Conference on Road Safety, Brussels, Belgium. "Biomechanics of Accidents, Part I" pp A8-1-A8-32.
• Corporate Authors:

  University College London

  Centre for Transport Studies, Gower Street
  London,   United Kingdom  WC1E 6BT
• Authors:
  • GRIME, G
• Publication Date: 1968

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anatomy; Automobiles; Crash severity; Injuries; Manual safety belts; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Interior
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096380
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-010 316, HS-009 011
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1983 12:00AM