Automobile seat belt design: minimizing the risk of serious and fatal injury for senior drivers

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2018-09

Authors

Susana C. F. Fernandes (Author) Other; José L. Esteves (Author) FEUP; Ricardo Simões (Author) Other; João Sampaio (Author) Other

Book

Title: TECHNOLOGY AND ART

Pages: 55-64

ISBN: ISSN 2029-400X

Other information

Abstract (EN): The proper use of seat belts is an effective means of preventing serious injury or death in a motor vehicle crash. However, injuries caused by the seat belt itself may result in serious injury to the user. This article examines how to minimize the risk of serious and fatal injuries in older adults, resulting from seat belts in crash involvement, with the aim of improving the design, ergonomic and anthropometric adjustments, and comfort of seat belts. The research methodology is descriptive and correlates recent automotive studies, seat belt laws, road accident statistics, crash tests, medical reports, ergonomic and anthropometric data, and elderly health evaluations. This study concludes that the seat belt design in most marketed vehicles with three attachment points, are not the most adequate to the anthropometry, physical fragility and weakness, comfort, and safety of elderly users. From this research, we propose improvement aspects to consider in seat belt design to minimize this problem.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10