Lateral Impact Studies - Lap Belt Shoulder Harness Investigations

A series of controlled deceleration experiments was performed with 52 young human male volunteers to determine, if possible, human tolerance to lateral impacts while restrained with a combination seat belt and torso (two straps attached to the seat at the shoulder line, passed over the shoulders parallel to the vertebral column and attached to the lap belt) harness. The subjects were exposed in 87 different experiments at average impact G's of 4.47 to 11.59 and durations of 0.22 to 0.09 seconds, respectively. No permanent physiological changes were noted.

Minor subjective physical complaints were reported by more than 60% of the subjects when exposed to 8.8 average G's or more. The possibility of cardiovascular involvement halted the experiments after two subjects were exposed to the 11.59 average G pattern (12 G series).