Traffic accidents and seat belts: thorax injuries

The types of injuries to 313 automobile accident victims, especially thorax injuries, are compared. Independent of seat belt use (42%), there was in general a higher degree of injury. Those wearing seat belts had a markedly less severe AISm (median degree of injury of body region) and less severe thorax injury. Severe thorax injury was first found at speeds greater than 24 km/h above average. Severer thorax injury is to be expected with defective seat belts (AISm = 1.25) than with properly functioning belts (AISm = 0.32).