AUTOMOBILE SEAT BELT USE AFTER THE INTERLOCK

Belt use of drivers in their cars was observed in four major metropolitan areas during February-March, 1976. Despite the increased comfort of new belt systems, two-thirds of drivers in 1976 model cars were not using any belts and three-fourths were not using shoulder belts. The results were similar in 1974-75 models, many of which were originally equipped with interlock systems that prevented the car from starting unless belts were extended or latched. More than three-fourths of drivers in pre- 1974 cars were not using any belts. The gains in belt use in 1974-76 models are extremely modest compared to gains in occupant crash protection that would result from a combination of automatic systems--such as air bags that inflate in severe frontal crashes--and mandatory belt use laws.

• Corporate Authors:

  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

  1005 North Glebe Road
  Arlington, VA  United States  22201
• Authors:
  • Robertson, L S
• Publication Date: 1976-6

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Ignition seat belt interlocks; Laws; Manual safety belts; Metropolitan areas; Restraint systems; Shoulder harnesses
• Old TRIS Terms: Occupant restraint; Shoulder harness
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00145101
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 30 1977 12:00AM