Samenvatting
Injury frequencies of unrestrained occupants were compared to those who were wearing lap-shoulder belts at the time of the crash. Frontal and rollover crashes were seperately studied. In addition, all fatal crashes that the author investigated during a three year period were reviewed to determine lap-shoulder belt effectiveness. In frontal crashes the frequency of occurrence of the more serious injuries to all body areas is reduced in lap-shoulder belt users. In rollover crashes, belts reduce the frequency of the more severe injuries by preventing occupant ejection. For those occupants in rollover crashes who were not ejected from the car, belt systems effectively reduce fatalities and the more serious injuries.