Dc. Viano, RESTRAINT EFFECTIVENESS, AVAILABILITY AND USE IN FATAL CRASHES - IMPLICATIONS TO INJURY CONTROL, The journal of trauma, injury, infection, and critical care, 38(4), 1995, pp. 538-546
The effectiveness and benefits of occupant restraint systems are compa
red by seating position in motor vehicles. While safety belts are 42%
effective in preventing fatalities, the addition of the driver side ai
rbag provides a 12% increase in effectiveness. The implications of saf
ety belt use and airbag availability over the next decade are consider
ed for fatal injury prevention. The analysis includes theoretical rela
tionships and forecasts fatality prevention as lap-shoulder belt use i
ncreases and airbags phase into the vehicle fleet.