Effect of Body Restraints on Driver Reach

Increased use of upper torso restraints directs attention toward the possible effects on driver reach capability in an automotive package. The results of a survey of male and female driver reach envelopes - “ergospheres” - in American and European basic package geometries are presented. Contour sections representing 5th-percentile shells of the ergospheres resulting from various degrees of torso restraint are presented in comparison with the ergosphere characteristic of lap-belt-only restraint. Differences in the effects on reach are pronounced and suggest that the inertia-reel type of upper torso restraint incurs the least reduction in size of the ergosphere.