Comfort and Convenience Improvements to Increase Safety Belt Utilization

To obtain the social benefits of increased safety belt utilization, the important role of improvements is stressed. Passive restraints represent one possibility for improvement of convenience, and several systems are briefly reviewed. The view is expressed that the more sophisticated type of passive system would not offer the consumer good value for money, and that the continuing upgrading of active safety belts or simple passive belts would serve the public better. Existing belts are reviewed and comment made on methods of improvement, with special reference to the reduction of shoulder belt pressure.