Citation

Grime G. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1963; 7: 465-467.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1963, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

THE use of seat belts in Britain started to achieve appreciable proportions in 1960 following the introduction of a British Standard for seat belts. A count made in August, 1962 showed that about 7 per cent of automobiles in the London area were fitted with belts; if these proportions hold for the whole country then about 450,000 automobiles were fitted at that time. In the same survey it was found that only 1 per cent of the belts fitted were lap belts. Of the rest, 44 per cent were simple diagonal belts, 42 per cent were combined lap and diagonal belts, mostly three point, and 13 per cent were full harnesses.

All but a very small proportion of the seat belts sold in Britain carry the "kite" mark of the British Standards Institution, although this is not a legal requirement. Belts carrying this mark have been approved by the British Standards Institution and the maker is licensed to manufacture belts to this standard. One in 300 of all such belts manufactured by licensees is subjected to the British Standard test.

This is a report advocating the use of diagonal belts in preference to lap belts and citing their value especially in head-on collisions.