The most frequently stated reason for not wearing safety belts given in a recent survey of Michigan licensed drivers was that they might trap an occupant in a car which had either caught on fire or was immersed in water. This report presents a series of analyses intended to explore the incidence of death from automobile fires and immersions and the association between belt usage and such deaths. The analyses indicate that deaths from fire or immersion accidents are rare among traffic fatalities. The capability of self-rescue in an emergency such as fire or immersion is preserved by measures which increase the likelihood of remaining conscious. Not using restraints approximately doubles the probability of losing consciousness after a crash. The likelihood of death is over 40 times as great if one is ejected than if one remains in the car. In contrast to the low incidence of death from fire or immersion, 22 percent of the fatally injured passenger car occupants are ejected, and restraints nearly eliminate ejection.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    I Do Not Wear Safety Belts Because


    Contributors:
    R. E. Scott (author) / J. O'Day (author)

    Publication date :

    1983


    Size :

    23 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Safety belts

    Engineering Index Backfile | 1958


    Who doesn't wear seat belts?

    Richards, D.C. / Hutchins, R. / Cookson, R.E. et al. | ELBA - Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) | 2012

    Free access

    Car seat belts detect passenger's wear

    KIM DEUK YONG | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access

    Safety belts for motorcars

    Odelgard, Bengt / Weman, Per-Olof | TIBKAT | 1957