This paper deals with the subject of lap-shoulder belt effectiveness. Actual field collision vehicles are illustrated with the details of the lap and shoulder restrained occupants to support the theme that properly used lap and shoulder restraint systems can reduce injury severity in automobile collisions. Presently, approximately 40% of the passenger cars registered in the United States are equipped with lap and shoulder belt systems, but few persons use them.

By 1973, when passive restraint systems are proposed for all passenger cars, approximately 62% of the passenger car population will be equipped with lap and shoulder belt systems. Ten years later (or in 1983) it is projected that only 11% of the cars in the country will be older models equipped with the lap and shoulder belt system. The motoring public is apt to assume a false sense of security during the transitory years of change to passive restraint systems because of lack of public awareness campaigns to "buckle up." This, in turn, is apt to result in a decreased use of voluntary restraints and, therefore, an increased injury risk. The consequence could result in a reversal of the current downward injury trend. This paper is presented to encourage the use of the lap-shoulder belt system by demonstrating the injury reduction benefits that have occurred in field accidents.

People who have studied or have collected data in the accident-injury area are well aware of the survival risk for occupants who are completely ejected from the vehicle. This was well-documented by Cornell University (1). Dr. D.F. Huelke of the University of Michigan has shown (2) (3) that partial ejection has a similar fatal potential and the lap belt alone does not prevent partial ejection.