THE POTENTIAL GAIN TO BE ACHIEVED BY GENERALIZATION OF SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS IN TRUCKS

In recent years, throughout Europe, truck manufacturers have developed and installed occupant restraint systems similar to those that have been available in passenger vehicles for a long time. The development of truck seatbelts and steering-wheel mounted airbags is based on occupant safety research, and the need to meet European safety regulations which will come into effect in the near future. This paper aims to evaluate the potential efficiency of a seat belt coupled to an airbag. The study is based on the CEESAR truck accidents database. The sample includes 403 accidents which involved 479 unbelted occupants (all injury level). The injury causation mechanism according to the type and the severity of the crash enable us an effectiveness evaluation based on a supposed 100 % seat belt (and air bag) use rate. The use of seat belts with 3 anchoring points mounted on the seat of trucks (with an airbag) would be effective for 37 % of fatalities, 36 % of seriously injured and 22 % of slightly injured occupants.