Toyota cressidas have had motor driven automatic belts since 1981. Their observed use rates have been consistently close to 100%. This paper compares fatality rates in toyota cressidas with those in the similar nissan maximas (which are equipped with three-point manual belts) using the latest data from the fatal accident reporting system. After making adjustments for differences in the average ages offront seat occupants of the two fleets, the toyotas have a fatalityrate that is about three-quarters that of the nissans. From this, the fatality-reducing effectiveness for the toyota automatic belts isestimated to be 40% with an uncertainty of plus or minus 8%. This effectiveness estimate is consistent with earlier estimates of automatic belt effectiveness. (a).
Abstract