In the case of the belted driver, the head-steering wheel impact
remains an important cause of grievous injury caused by head-on
collision.
This paper describes two recent works carried out by R.N.U.R. to
improve the matter.
The first of these works consisted in using belt locking devices
just after the reel so as to avoid or diminish the spool out
effect. The aim was to reduce head-steering wheel impact speed
through an increae of belt retention. However, one cannot conclude
from our studies, that this research direction wil bring
significant improvements.
The second of these works is concerned with steering wheel
design. The results which were reached show that a simple
collapsible steering hub enable to obtain a significant improvement
of the parameters, recorded on a dummy, during complete vehicle
collision tests.
One should underline that the solution which was developed takes
into account manufacture feasibility constraints.
To this end, the Iso Delta Company, a supplier of Regie Renault
closely collaborated in this reasearch work.