Continuing controversy exists as a result of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 which in 1975 will require new vehicles to be equipped with passive restraint systems, often interpreted as air cushion restraints. However, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 also mandates improved active restraint systems for the period 1972 to 1975. A search of the literature revealed no hard data as to the effect of these improved restraint systems and resulted in the initiation of this research study.

This paper will describe:​

1. The first generation system improvements installed in domestic automobiles commencing January, 1972.
2. Development of second and subsequent generation restraint system improvements not currently in production.
3. Development of electro-mechanical hardware which can be installed in automobiles to determine restraint usage.
4. Preliminary results of a study incorporating the use of the previously mentioned hardware which shows a significant increase in restraint system usage.

The conclusions suggest that occupant restraint usage is increasing as a result of current improved restraint systems, and can be further increased as a result of more sophisticated systems possibly providing a viable alternative to passive restraint and compulsory restraint use legislation.