Skip to main content
PMC home page
Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1970 Feb 28;102(4):391–393.

The Value of Safety Belts: A Review

N J Hodson-Walker
PMCID: PMC1946486  PMID: 4905861

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.

Full text

PDF
393

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AIKEN D. W. Intestinal perforation and facial fractures in an automobile accident victim wearing a seat belt. J La State Med Soc. 1963 Jul;115:235–236. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BRUNIUS U., LINDGREN S. [The effectiveness of safety belts. An analysis of 210 belt cases]. Nord Med. 1961 Nov 2;66:1500–1503. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Blumenberg R. M. The seat belt syndrome: sigmoid colon perforation. Ann Surg. 1967 Apr;165(4):637–639. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196704000-00023. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. CAMPBELL H. E. Role of the safety belt in nineteen auto crashes. Bull Am Coll Surg. 1955 May-Jun;40(3):155–158. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. CAMPBELL H. E. THIRTY-THREE FATAL CRASHES WITH SEAT BELTS. Rocky Mt Med J. 1964 Aug;61:27–29. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. COCKE W. M., Jr, MEYER K. K. Splenic rupture due to improper placement of automobile safety belt. JAMA. 1963 Feb 23;183:693–693. doi: 10.1001/jama.1963.63700080034025c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FISHER P. INJURY PRODUCED BY SEAT BELTS: REPORT OF 2 CASES. J Occup Med. 1965 May;7:211–212. doi: 10.1097/00043764-196505000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fletcher B. D., Brogdon B. G. Seat-belt fractures of the spine and sternum. JAMA. 1967 Apr 10;200(2):167–168. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. GARRETT J. W., BRAUNSTEIN P. W. The seat belt syndrome. J Trauma. 1962 May;2:220–238. doi: 10.1097/00005373-196205000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. GIKAS P. W., JUELKE D. F. CAUSES OF DEATHS IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. CAN SEAT BELTS REALLY SAVE LIVES? J Mich State Med Soc. 1964 May;63:351–354. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HERBERT D. C. INJURY REDUCTION BY DIAGONAL AND OTHER VEHICLE SAFETY BELTS. Med J Aust. 1964 Jan 18;1:61–66. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HOWLAND W. J., CURRY J. L., BUFFINGTON C. B. FULCRUM FRACTURES OF THE LUMBAR SPINE. TRANSVERSE FRACTURE INDUCED BY AN IMPROPERLY PLACED SEAT BELT. JAMA. 1965 Jul 19;193:240–241. doi: 10.1001/jama.1965.03090030062025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. KULOWSKI J., ROST W. B. Intra-abdominal injury from safety belt in auto accident; report of a case. AMA Arch Surg. 1956 Dec;73(6):970–971. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1956.01280060070015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. LEWIS S. T., STAPP J. P. Human tolerance to aircraft seat belt restraint. J Aviat Med. 1958 Mar;29(3):187–196. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. LISTER R. D., MILSOM B. M. CAR SEAT-BELTS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE INJURIES SUSTAINED BY CAR OCCUPANTS. Practitioner. 1963 Sep;191:332–340. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. LeMire J. R., Earley D. E., Hawley C. Intra-abdominal injuries caused by automobile seat belts. JAMA. 1967 Sep 4;201(10):735–737. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. MICHELSON I., ALDMAN B., TOURIN B., MITCHELL J. DYNAMIC TESTS OF RESTRAINING DEVICES FOR AUTOMOBILE PASSENGERS. Public Health Rep. 1964 Feb;79:125–135. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. MORELAND J. D. Safety belts in motor cars, an assessment of their effectiveness. Ann Occup Hyg. 1962 Apr-Jun;5:95–111. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. MOSELEY H. G. Aircraft accident injuries in the U.S. Air Force; a review of 2,011 cases in 1953 and 1955. J Aviat Med. 1958 Apr;29(4):271–282. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. MacLeod J. H., Nicholson D. M. Seat-belt trauma to the abdomen. Can J Surg. 1969 Apr;12(2):202–206. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. McRoberts J. W. Seat belt injuries and legal aspects. Ind Med Surg. 1965 Nov;34(11):866–869. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. POPPEN J. R. Support of upper body against accelerative forces in aircraft. J Aviat Med. 1958 Jan;29(1):76–84. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Porter S. D., Green E. W. Seat belt injuries. Arch Surg. 1968 Feb;96(2):242–246. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1968.01330200080014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. QUINN F. B., Jr Are seat belts enough? GP. 1962 Dec;26:101–103. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Shamblin J. R. Seat belt injuries. Arch Surg. 1968 Sep;97(3):474–477. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1968.01340030134013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Smith W. S., Kaufer H. A new pattern of spine injury associated with lap-type seat belts: a preliminary report. Univ Mich Med Cent J. 1967 May-Jun;33(3):99–104. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Snyder R. G., Snow C. C., Young J. W., Price G. T., 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 Sep;38(9):889–894. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sube J., Ziperman H., McIver W. J. Seat belt trauma to the abdomen. Am J Surg. 1967 Mar;113(3):346–350. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(67)90277-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. TOLINS S. H. AN UNUSUAL INJURY DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. J Trauma. 1964 May;4:397–399. doi: 10.1097/00005373-196405000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. TOURIN B. Ejection and automobile fatalites. Public Health Rep. 1958 May;73(5):381–391. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. WILLIAMS R. D., SARGENT F. T. The mechanism of intestinal injury in trauma. J Trauma. 1963 May;3:288–294. doi: 10.1097/00005373-196305000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. WOLF R. A. The discovery and control of ejection in automobile accidents. 792 lives may be saved yearly if properly constructed door locks are utilized in automobiles. JAMA. 1962 Apr 21;180:220–224. doi: 10.1001/jama.1962.03050160036009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Williams J. S., Lies B. A., Jr, Hale H. W., Jr The automotive safety belt: in saving a life may produce intra-abdominal injuries. J Trauma. 1966 May;6(3):303–315. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Witte C. L. Mesentery and bowel injury from automotive seat belts. Ann Surg. 1968 Apr;167(4):486–492. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196804000-00004. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. von BAHR, ERIKSSON E. [Injuries caused by safety belts]. Sven Lakartidn. 1961 Jan 20;58:141–143. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

RESOURCES