Effect of Restraining Belts in Preventing Vehicle-Occupant/Steering-System Impact

Restraining belt configurations are studied to determine their effectiveness in restricting occupant motion and occupant impact with the steering system. The study is conducted using the UCIN-CRASH computer simulation model. In the study, a head-on collision is simulated and the occupant response, with various restraint configurations, is monitored. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the shoulder belt/lap belt combination as opposed to lap belts alone in preventing occupant impact with the steering system. Also, restricting the leg motion is found to have a beneficial effect in reducing injury-causing forces.