1Chief, Clinical Laboratories, Veterans Administration Hospital, Ann Arbor
2Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School
3Associate Professor of Anatomy, University of Michigan Medical School
From our limited series of 23 fatalities of rear seat occupants approximately half could have survived if a seat belt would have been worn. Most of those who could not have survived even if belts had been worn were killed by collapse of the side of the car. More victims died from head injuries than from injury to any other body area. Attention is directed to the top of the front seat back as a potential impact area by seat belted rear seat occupants.