Personal InjuryAdditional Restraints Systems Hazards
Installation Points
The location for the shoulder harness in U.S. Vehicles has also proven problematic. Depending upon the size of the occupant, location of the restraint anchorage for the shoulder belt can induce serious injuries to the occupant whose torso size is not optimally restrained by the shoulder harness.
Despite the relatively low additional costs involved, the automakers have been slow to correct these problems, and only certain newer lines and luxury models currently offer adjustable shoulder belt anchorages. This permits the shoulder belt to be positioned in a more favorable and safe relationship to the upper torso, such as across the chest rather than across the neck, which ensures adequate protection in a crash.
Retractor Failure
When an accident occurs, the retractor is designed to lock the payout of the shoulder belt to prevent the torso from continuing forward into the dashboard or steering wheel.
BISNAR & CHASE have discovered a number of automakers' buckle designs which, through design and/or manufacturing defects, permit the shoulder belt to pay out excessively, resulting is severe injury-producing potential.
A pre-tensioning device has been perfected which tightens the belt around the occupant as a crash sequence begins. This has proven an effective fix to this problem. Once again, however, the automakers offer this live-saving technology on only a few, luxury models of their vehicles.
Air Bags Failures
Even though they have greatly reduced the potential for life-threatening injuries associated with buckle failure and ejection, air bagss have proven to produce crushing forces fatal to small or fail vehicle occupants and small children. While the industry claims to be taking steps to address these problems, it is unclear that they have adequately warned the American public of the genuine dangers associated with sudden air bags deployment.
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