Citation

Campbell HE. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1963; 7: 526-532.

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Twenty-three fatal crashes with seat belts occurring in Colorado during 1962 and the first eight months of 1963 are studied in detail and the following conclusions are reached: 1) The design and construction of current automobiles are inherently dangerous and will cause deaths and serious injuries in spite of seat belts or even more adequate personnel restraints; 2) The seat belt is not enough, upper torso control is required, and the carmakers must be led to provide built-in attachment points for these additional straps; 3) Cars must be built so that the steering shaft is not driven backward into the driver, when the front end is deformed in a crash; 4) Car doors must have stronger latches, the "improved" ones are not good enough; 5) Frames and bodies must be stronger to prevent penetration by the striking car in side impacts; and 6) Bumpers must be reasonably designed to become a protective device for cars and their occupants. Current bumpers are a scandal and a disgrace.