Automatic Belt Restraint Systems for Motor Vehicle Occupants

Following early U.S. Government regulatory action requiring passive occupant crash protection for vehicle occupants covered by Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, intensive development began on passive seatbelts as promising alternatives to the inflatable systems being considered. The general types of passive seatbelt systems are identified. Passive systems that have been offered to date as optional installations in production car lines are described. Design considerations are discussed. Recent usage rates of installed passive systems are compared with manual belts.