virsight hearing - Motor Vehicle Hazard Archive Project

June 22, 1988
lrarold A. s.k.y6n
94
lie have b€€n raitiog siateen yeals..at stitl no aur(
nanufaclurer has attached a shoulde! ba.oess ro rhr.
anchorage poi.L thar they nus! insralt in the re.rr cr
e!er) ca! lhey m"rnutactuie,
NflTsA, instead of enacting a rule requ!ria9 this huch
I
oeeded improveheoL, has tssueo dn advance notlce or
Proposed rule 'r'akin9 ard the iDdustry has responded by
say!n9 Lhat if yo! don,! require us Ec iosrall Ln!
stroul.der lap belt in the re wtll do ir on our
own Hhen_"e 9et d!ouno to rr proDdbly Dy Ln- rrd l9c0's
No provrsron Los made ror rh, mo!e rhan 100 mrtt.on
auLohoorles arready on tbe street riLb Iap bel!s only in
the rear seats,
The Eulopeatr experience as relt as rhe overehelmino
weight of the enginee!in9, safery, hedical and auro_
motive Iiterature h,as clear L! dehonstraced rhar rh(
shoulder/,Ep DFIL offers Frorecrron to,,
oei,ted occupant-than the ldp oe.L onIy, parrrcutart).
rn a fronral col.Irsron. This same eiperrence ano liter_
atule also denonsr!aies tha! certain injury patrerns
.!e the resu]L of the lap belt and c.n bp avorot.d b)
the shou lde!/ Iap beIr.
Lap belt injuri€s unfortunately are se!i.ous ones.
splnal cord injuries,hich !esuIr in pa!alysis; sproal
col.unn f!actures; abdosinaL eall rears; devascura;ira!ron
of the bowels; internal bemor!a9brn9; Lears in
the snal] o! 1ar9e inrestines, etc.
AI1 of these cao be avoided by the add.ltj,on of a sDaII
prece of clotn tba! crosses the body diagonatly and
keeps rhe uppe! rolso reslrained againsc the back of rhe
seat. It ca. be done for approrinalety Sl2 to S2O per
ca!. the entire cost is absolbed by the conssne!.
In Eulope shoulder/lap betrs in the rea! outboard
seating posittons have been comon for ove! ren ye.!r
Do'. VoIvo irscalled thenl volunta!ity atmost re;nty
Handatory use laws hav€ sigDificaDtl.y increas€d the
ovelatl usage of sear betts in the U.S. anat alrhouqb
j
.!,
l.