Since the passage of mandatory passive restraint legislation (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208) in 1984, numerous investigators have examined patterns of use among the different types of restraint systems and user populations. This paper reviews the available data on usage patterns in automatic shoulder belt and manual lap belt systems. The restraint systems involving automatic shoulder belts have generally been regarded as highly successful in increasing the use rates of shoulder belts for American drivers (frequently greater than 90%). At the same time, the use of the manual lap belt with automatic shoulder belts remains roughly similar to the use rate for manual three-point systems. The paper also reviews studies of driver's knowledge about the existence and importance of the elements of these automatic systems. These findings have potential application for the design of manual and automatic restraint systems in automobiles.
Abstract