UMTRI Project

Seatbelt Donning and Fit for Elderly Occupants

Sponsor: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Investigator: Matthew Reed
02/01/2006 - 07/01/2008

Recent analyses of real-world crash/injury data have shown that elderly vehicle occupants benefit less from seatbelts than younger adult occupants. As part of a broad effort to improve belt restraints for older drivers and passengers, a laboratory study of seatbelt fit and donning is underway. A laboratory mockup of a driver seat has been fitted with reconfigurable belt hardware that can represent a wide range of anchorage locations and stowed belt positions, and include study of both 3-point and 4-point belt systems. Young, middle-age, and elderly adults will sit in the mockup and don and doff the belt as their motions are recorded using a 3-D optical motion capture system. The results will be used to establish seatbelt design guidelines that will improve belt usage, comfort, and occupant protection for elderly occupants.