UMTRI Project

Evaluation of 4-point Belt Restraint in Frontal Impacts

Sponsor: Ford Motor Company
Investigator: Jonathan Rupp
09/01/2003 - 06/30/2008

A study was performed using PMHS to assess the effect of 4-point seat belts on the risk of thoracic injury in frontal impacts, to evaluate the ability to prevent submarining under the lap belt, and to examine whether 4-point belts may induce injuries not typically observed with three-point belts. Two four-point harness styles were evaluated, with the X-style adding constraint of the torso and increasing chest deflection and injury risk, while the harness style shifted load to the clavicles and pelvis and reduced chest deflection by a factor of two, substantially reducing thoracic injury risk. The harness-style belt did not allow submarining in any of the tests.