Samenvatting
Official crash data from North Carolina is examined for benefits of rear seat lap belts and front seat lap /shoulder belts. Both appreciably reduce serious and fatal injury. However, rear seat lap belts reach their limit of benefit in crashes of the most severe 2- 3% that occur on the highway. For lap /shoulder belts the limit appears to be higher. Lap belts reduce fatalities about 25% among wearers.