The Value of Safety Belts: a Review

Overview

Journal Can Med Assoc J

Specialty General Medicine

Date 1970 Feb 28

PMID 4905861

Citations 16

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The literature is reviewed to ascertain the values and dangers of safety belts. They are said to reduce the risk of major or fatal injury in impacts by nearly 60%. An incidence of abdominal trauma of the order of 0.5% is ascribed to the safety belt, and in addition there is a low incidence of a specific type of spinal fracture. The safety belt has not been shown to make injuries worse, and in causing injuries of its own has prevented more serious ones. The design of the safety belt is discussed; the three-point (lap-and-diagonal) belt is probably the best type for automobiles currently available. Recent research suggests that more sophisticated restraint systems may make survival possible in very severe impacts.

Citing Articles

Animal lifestyle affects acceptable mass limits for attached tags.

Wilson R, Rose K, Gunner R, Holton M, Marks N, Bennett N Proc Biol Sci. 2021; 288(1961):20212005.

PMID: 34702077 PMC: 8548787. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2005.

Prevalence of and factors associated with self-reported noncompliance with mandatory seatbelt-use law while driving among adults in Kuwait.

Ridha H, Bouzaber F, Al-Sallal M, Almutairi A, Al-Dhubaiei R, Akhtar S Inj Epidemiol. 2020; 7(1):58.

PMID: 33161895 PMC: 7650188. DOI: 10.1186/s40621-020-00284-9.

Epidemiological profile of thoracolumbar fracture (TLF) over a period of 10 years in Tianjin, China.

Li B, Sun C, Zhao C, Yao X, Zhang Y, Duan H J Spinal Cord Med. 2018; 42(2):178-183.

PMID: 29595401 PMC: 6419675. DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2018.1455018.

The epidemiology of thoracolumbar trauma: A meta-analysis.

Katsuura Y, Osborn J, Cason G J Orthop. 2016; 13(4):383-8.

PMID: 27504058 PMC: 4963326. DOI: 10.1016/j.jor.2016.06.019.

A report of three cases and review of the literature on rectal disruption following abdominal seatbelt trauma.

El Kafsi J, Kraus R, Guy R Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016; 98(2):86-90.

PMID: 26741660 PMC: 5210488. DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2016.0050.

References

POPPEN J . Support of upper body against accelerative forces in aircraft. J Aviat Med. 1958; 29(1):76-84. View

LeMire J, EARLEY D, Hawley C . Intra-abdominal injuries caused by automobile seat belts. JAMA. 1967; 201(10):735-7. View

Witte C . Mesentery and bowel injury from automotive seat belts. Ann Surg. 1968; 167(4):486-92. PMC: 1387238. DOI: 10.1097/00000658-196804000-00004. View

Garrett J, BRAUNSTEIN P . The seat belt syndrome. J Trauma. 1962; 2:220-38. DOI: 10.1097/00005373-196205000-00002. View

Porter S, Green E . Seat belt injuries. Arch Surg. 1968; 96(2):242-6. DOI: 10.1001/archsurg.1968.01330200080014. View

BLUMENBERG R . The seat belt syndrome: sigmoid colon perforation. Ann Surg. 1967; 165(4):637-9. PMC: 1617457. DOI: 10.1097/00000658-196704000-00023. View

VON BAHR , Eriksson E . [Injuries caused by safety belts]. Sven Lakartidn. 1961; 58:141-3. View

Fisher P . INJURY PRODUCED BY SEAT BELTS: REPORT OF 2 CASES. J Occup Med. 1965; 7:211-2. DOI: 10.1097/00043764-196505000-00007. View

Herbert D . INJURY REDUCTION BY DIAGONAL AND OTHER VEHICLE SAFETY BELTS. Med J Aust. 1964; 1:61-6. View

10.

SNYDER R, SNOW C, Young J, Price G, Hanson P . Experimental comparison of trauma in lateral (+Gy), rearward facing (+Gx), and forward facing (-Gx) body orientations when restrained by lap belt only. Aerosp Med. 1967; 38(9):889-94. View

11.

Campbell H . THIRTY-THREE FATAL CRASHES WITH SEAT BELTS. Rocky Mt Med J. 1964; 61:27-9. View

12.

LISTER R, MILSOM B . CAR SEAT-BELTS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE INJURIES SUSTAINED BY CAR OCCUPANTS. Practitioner. 1963; 191:332-40. View

13.

Tolins S . AN UNUSUAL INJURY DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. J Trauma. 1964; 4:397-9. DOI: 10.1097/00005373-196405000-00014. View

14.

Lewis S, STAPP J . Human tolerance to aircraft seat belt restraint. J Aviat Med. 1958; 29(3):187-96. View

15.

AIKEN D . Intestinal perforation and facial fractures in an automobile accident victim wearing a seat belt. J La State Med Soc. 1963; 115:235-6. View

16.

GIKAS P, JUELKE D . CAUSES OF DEATHS IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. CAN SEAT BELTS REALLY SAVE LIVES?. J Mich State Med Soc. 1964; 63:351-4. View

17.

Campbell H . Role of the safety belt in nineteen auto crashes. Bull Am Coll Surg. 1955; 40(3):155-8. View

18.

Smith W, Kaufer H . A new pattern of spine injury associated with lap-type seat belts: a preliminary report. Univ Mich Med Cent J. 1967; 33(3):99-104. View

19.

MacLeod J, Nicholson D . Seat-belt trauma to the abdomen. Can J Surg. 1969; 12(2):202-6. View

20.

TOURIN B . Ejection and automobile fatalites. Public Health Rep (1896). 1958; 73(5):381-91. PMC: 1951582. View