Accidents involving 706 fatally injured occupants in 1967 through 1972 cars were examined to assign the fatality reduction potential of a lap belt alone, a lap and shoulder belt, an air cushion, and an air cushion plus lap belt. Projecting the results to the real world is influenced by current belt usage, belt usage incentive effects, air cushion introduction timetable effects, injury reduction, the possibility of restraint system caused injuries, and restraint system cost effectiveness.
Abstract