Abstract
The use of three- point occupant restraints has been shown to be a very effective means of reducing the severity of occupant injuries over all crash modes. In a small number of cases, not involving intrusion into the occupant space, severe to fatal injuries have occurred to fully- restrained occupants, and restraint system misuse has been found to be a major causal factor. Three primary modes of seat belt misuse are identified in the present paper, these being excessive slack in the system, improper placement of the seat belt webbing, and unsuitable pre- impact posture of the occupant.