RESIDUAL INJURIES TO RESTRAINED CAR OCCUPANTS IN FRONT- AND REAR-SEAT POSITIONS. IN: SEAT BELTS: THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY FEATURE

Even though the protective quality of the seat belt is undisputed, it is also clear that injuries may occur whether or not a seat belt is worn. In this study, accident and collision injuries are inflicted to belt-protected drivers, co-drivers and rear seat passengers. Based on documented traffic accidents, a total of 1,865 single injuries incurred by 605 belt protected front seat and 35 rear seat passengers were analyzed. The results show that in frontal collisions, a high injury risk still remained, for the knee region by the dashboard, for thorax and head region by the steering wheel. In lateral collisions, injuries to the whole body were caused by the side structures of the doors. Car designers and constructors must regard this data as a challenge.