Eighty-five laboratory full-scale force-deflection tests were conducted on passenger vehicle seats, foreign and domestic, for purposes of evaluating specific resistance to a collision environment and mechanisms of collision induced seat distortion. These tests evaluated seats that span the past thirty years;​ additionally, seat design studies were conducted evaluating basic features of automotive seating during the past eighty years.

Data from full-scale collision experiments and from a large number of actual accidents facilitated the establishment of seat design criteria for greatly improved collision performance. Evolution of seat and head support standards in the United States and Europe are presented with evaluation of their relative significance to the requirements of automotive seat collision performance.

The foregoing research provided foundation for modification of a production automobile seat into an integral safety seat, based on a design concept that minimizes bending moments during collision. The modified seat was subjected to the same laboratory test procedure applied to the 85 non-modified production seats and results of its performance is given.

Design concepts are presented that would serve to mitigate undesirable seat distortions during collision and thus improve seat restraint capabilities without compromising the important factors of comfort and cost.