Usage patterns and misuse rates of automatic seat belts by system type

Reinfurt, Donald W.; St. Cyr, Cheryl L.; Hunter, William W.

Affiliations

¹Highway Safety Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Abstract

This study examined seat belt usage by drivers of 4151 late model cars in North Carolina equipped with a variety of restraint system types. Of special interest was the usage of shoulder and/or lap belts for both motorized and non-motorized automatic seat belt systems. For comparison purposes, data were also collected on usage rates for three-point manual systems. Usage rates are provided by restraint type (automatic belt, air bag, manual belt), by make/model and by driver characteristics (age, sex and race). Highest usage rates (79.6%) were found for automatic belts followed by traditional manual belts (76.3%) and restraints provided in air bag-equipped cars (73.9%). Although the shoulder belt was utilized in 94.2 percent of the motorized belt cars such as the Ford Tempo and Toyota Camry, the accompanying lap belt was fastened in only 28.6% of these vehicles. Among the automatic belt systems, the non-motorized automatic lap/shoulder combination, such as used by General Motors and Honda, was the least frequently utilized (76.9%). Misuse of the shoulder belt (e.g., excessive slack, detached from the door, placed under the arm) was found in nearly six percent of the sample. As a result of this survey along with one conducted by the US DOT, it would appear that increased public information and education concerning these new restraint systems is warranted.

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
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Cited By (8)

Year	Entry
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1994	Kim K, Li L. Seat belt usage and injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions. In: 38th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 21-23, 1994; Lyon, France.43-55.
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.
2000	Augenstein J, Perdeck E, Bowen J, Stratton J, Horton T, Singer M, Digges K, Malliaris A, Steps J. Dummy measurement of chest injuries induced by two-point shoulder belts. In: 44th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 2-4, 2000; Chicago, IL.
1994	Streff FM. Field effectiveness of two restraint systems: the 3-point manual belt versus the 2-point-motorized-shoulder, manual-lap belt. In: Advances in Occupant Restraint Technologies: Joint AAAM-IRCOBI Special Session. September 22, 1994; Lyon, France.1-10.
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1993	Zador PL, Ciccone MA. Automobile driver fatalities in frontal impacts: air bags compared with manual belts. Am J Public Health. May 1993;83(5):661-666.