Effects of safety belt usage on injury patterns of hospitalized and fatally injured drivers 55+.

This study examined differences between drivers under age 55 and drivers 55+ in terms of restraint use and the injury patterns of restrained and unrestrained drivers. Hospitalized drivers 55+ more often used restraints, both properly and improperly, had more deaths post- injury, and a higher mean length of hospital stay than younger drivers. Chest injuries were more common among older drivers, but restraint use lessened the number of cases with rib fractures.