This paper examines how the characteristics of front seat car occupants affected their vulnerability to non-minor injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale equal to or greater than 2) from seat belt loads, and how the very different environments for drivers and front seat passengers (FSPs) affected injury rates. FSPs suffered belt injuries considerably more often than drivers. Occupants who suffered non-minor injuries from the belt tended to be older in both low and high speed crashes. Weight was seen to be a factor in belt injuries to drivers. Equivalent Test Speeds were calculated showing that torso injuries from belts rose in frequency with crash severity up to 55 km/h. Above that speed belts were that speed belts were seen to be significantly less important causes of injuries to FSPs, while other causes were the more significantproblems for drivers at 35 km/h and above. (A)
Samenvatting