virsight hearing - Motor Vehicle Hazard Archive Project

112
Mr- S,cx./\yaN. We'rc talking about lapbelLq in the rear seat of a
car because--
Mr. Ntuusox. Yes.
Mr. Sex,,rvrrq. OX.
Mr. Nrtr^sor'r. You gave us a picture that the lapbells in the back
seat in several instances caused deaths and serious irrjuries. llow
many serious injuries and deaths have been caused by not wearing
seatbelts at all in the back seatt
Mr- SlxlylN. I honestly don't know a statistic to give you there
because I just don't. I have seen a symposium recently that was
done last year on rear seat restraints, I believe it was the SAE in
which the whole need for added protection was questioned because
of the safer environment senerally but I don't-I can't tell you how
many people have gone oiit the riat window of a car because they
weren't wearing any restraint at all.
Mr. NrursoN. You gave the impression-I'm not sure you intended
to-but you gave the impression that it was better not to wear a
seatbelt at all than to wear a lapbelt-only. Did you intend that imnression?
-
Mr. Sex.cy.AN. Under certain circumstances, yes. If the lap.
belt--
Mr. NrusoN. But we don't know the circumstance, when vou
buckle uo in the back seat--
Mr. SaxayaN. l,et me explain that if I can--
Mr. NrsrsoN- When I decide whether to buckle up or not, what
are my odds?
Mr. Saxavln. OK. The predicament is this. A lapbelt is designed
to provide pelvic restraint and it functions best for that kind of a
system when it comes at approximately a 45Jegree angle to a
person who is seated upright and it falls below the iliac crest, that
Lop part of your hip bone iomewhere around the area of what they
call the an{erior/superior iliac spine. It's a little hook out in front
of the pelvis.
If the belt comes across there, then whatever protection it's capable
of providing will fall on the largest bone mass you have in your
body, the pelvi-, and it is better able to absorb the forces that come
out in an accident and also the pel.ric bowl has the bladder and the
lower part of your intestines in front of it but because of the way it
is shaied, theie is less likelihood that those are going to suffer serious
injury.
As soon as it rides up--
Mr. NrrrsoN. But ydu still haven't anewered my question. Is it
better to wear a lapbelt in the back if that's all that's there? Obviouslv.
if the shoulder harness is there. that's frne, but if there's
only a lapbelt. should you or should you not wear it?
Mr. SlxeveN. I'm answering it--
Mr. NreLsoN. No, you're not.
Mr. S.nrevaN. Oh, I'm sorry. l,et me try it this way.
Mr. NIrrcor. Try just yes or no.
Mr. SlxeveN. Yes or no depends on whether it comes acro68
vour pelvis or rides up higher. lf the lapbelt when you strap it on
iides hieh above the belrris so that it comes across your abdomen
around lour navel foi example, based on the cases I've had and
this is n6t that many, but it's more than I think most other people