In the early 1960s, Congress placed a requirement on vehicle manufacturers to ensure that their seat belts met minimum federal safety standards. As time passed, it became apparent that the current lap belt systems were not adequate. Seat belt injuries were becoming more and more common. In an effort to reduce the chance of a seat belt injury, manufacturers began using a combination of a shoulder belt and a lap belt. This design helped to more evenly distribute the forces exerted on the body during an accident, which helped to lower the chance of a seat belt injury.
Another area of development has been in the buckles that secure the seatbelts. These have also gone through a few changes over the years. Some seat belt injuries have been caused by buckles that have failed during an accident. A condition known as “false latching” is another cause of failure. This happens when the user believes that the belt buckle is fully latched when in fact it is not. This allows the buckle to come un-latched during an accident allowing the passenger to be thrown from the seat.
©2008 Newsome Law Firm