Assessment of Timely Retractor Lockup in Automotive Seat Belt Systems

This paper discusses the ongoing real-world effects on the wearers of restraint systems which are subject to a retractor's failure to lock in a timely manner. Investigation of the ELR performance using both detailed physical examination and inductive methods enables accurate assessment of successful ELR locking at the first opportunity in the crash sequence.

Available methods to determine the reliability of the ELR's crash performance are considered and analyzed for assessment of reliability to enable adequate seat belt wearer protection. Corrective measures are analyzed to probe the feasibility of federal safety regulation amendments to mandate a reliability analysis on the propensity for the ELR's failure to lock in a timely manner.