SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF SEAT BELTS ON TRANSIT BUSES. PHASE II FINAL REPORT

While there is an overwhelming evidence in the literature on the effectiveness of seat belts in reducing the severity of passenger injuries in accidents involving automobiles, very little, if any, is known on the possible safety implications of seat belts on transit buses. The objectives of this work were to assess the possible safety implications of seat belt usage in transit buses relative to reductions of severity of injury resulting from traffic accidents, and to determine if major changes in the structural elements of the bus frame may be warranted to enable the frame to withstand the instantaneous stress build-up resulting from sudden activation of seat belts.