This paper discusses the experience obtained from accident research which resulted from the increase in the belt-wearing rate, now over 90% in Germany. The changes in the accident characteristics resulting from this high belt-wearing rate, for example the relative importance of head-on and side-collisions are examined. The new priorities in the case of "injuries in spite of fastened safety belts" are described.
The risk to the rear-seat passenger and the problem of interaction between belted front and unbelted rear-seat passengers are discussed, and possible improvements derived from real-live accidents are presented.
On the basis of the "injury characteristics in spite of fastened seat belts" now available proposals are made for futher increasing vehicle safety, especially with regard to optimizing the steering column, to the use of a belt pretensioner, and the airbag.