Citation

Hitosugi M, Tokudome S. Int. J. Crashworthiness 2009; 14(5): 483-487.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13588260902826539

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite wearing seatbelts, many pregnant women miscarry after being involved in rear-end collisions. To avoid contact or to reduce external forces to the abdomen, we examined the application of a seatbelt tensioner (ST) for pregnant drivers during rear-end collisions. We performed sled tests using a pregnant dummy, Maternal Anthropometric Measurement Apparatus, version 2B. The activated ST decreased peak intra-uterine pressures at 6.5 g of acceleration. This phenomenon was due to the characteristics generated when an occupant is coupled to a vehicle and excursion is reduced. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the effect of an ST on pregnant drivers. Because an ST might reduce the injury potential of relatively high-speed rear-end vehicle collisions, adaptive safety measures should be promoted to protect pregnant drivers and their fetuses