Field effectiveness of two restraint systems:​ the 3-point manual belt versus the 2-point-motorized-shoulder, manual-lap belt

Streff, F. M.

Affiliations

¹The University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, MI U.S.A.

Abstract

The research question addressed in this paper is whether or not occupant death, injury, and ejection outcomes differ between vehicles equipped with 3-point manual belts versus 2- point-motorized-shoulder, manual lap (motorized/manual) belt systems. Census crash data sets for the states of Washington and Texas, and the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) were subset to provide data on front-outboard occupants of Ford Escorts involved in crashes in calendar years 1981-1991. Logistic regression analyses showed that occupants of vehicles equipped with the motorized/manual system experienced 11.7% to 26.4% fewer K-A level injuries than occupants of vehicles equipped with the 3-point system. Similar analyses of FARS data showed lower ejection rates for occupants of vehicles with the motorized/manual system in both rollover and nonrollover crashes. The installation of the motorized/manual system provided a substantial safety benefit over the manual 3-point system in the time periods examined.

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
1990	Reinfurt DW, St. Cyr CL, Hunter WW. Usage patterns and misuse rates of automatic seat belts by system type. In: 34th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 1-3, 1990; Scottsdale, AZ.163-179.

Cited By (2)

Year	Entry
1994	Waller JA. Socrates, an elephant, and occupant restraints In discussion of: Part FIELD EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. In: 38th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 21-23, 1994; Lyon, France.27-32.
1995	Augenstein JS, Digges KH, Malliaris AC, Perdeck EB, Lombardo LV, Stratton J, Nunez D, Byers P, Quigley CV, Young PE, Andron J, Murtha M, Craythome K, Zych G, Halem M. Liver injuries associated with 2-point belt restraints in frontal crashes. In: 39th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16-18, 1995; Chicago, IL.193-211.